After the Fire a Still Small Voice
Old Testament: Lesson 28
by Ted L. Gibbons
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Introduction
We do not understand with perfect clarity the activities of those in Paradise, but I have wondered what Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were doing during the reigns of Jeroboam and his appalling successors. We know they are Gods now (see D&C 132:37), but in those early years of apostasy, the view from above must have been heartrending.
In 875 BC Ahab ascended to the throne in Samaria. "And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him" (1 Kings 16:30). He was bad enough on his own, but he compounded the depth of his iniquity when he chose a wife:
"And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria . And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him" (1 Kings 16:31-33).
During the reign of Ahab God did what he has always done when his people wander away from their covenants and begin the service of false Gods. He sent a prophet—in this case a man whose name and deeds have echoed across the centuries, and whose presence has been pivotal in at least two dispensations besides his own—a prophet named Elijah.
I. ELIJAH SEALS UP THE HEAVENS, IS MIRACULOUSLY SUSTAINED, AND RAISES A WIDOW'S SON FROM THE DEAD.
"AND Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word" (1 Kings 17:1).
God has many ways of getting people's attention. You might consider a review of D&C 43:25 where many of these methods are listed. God has often used the weather to alert people to his commandments and his will. But in this case he announced the drought beforehand and then had Elijah add a remarkable postscript: "there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word." Elijah then promptly disappeared.
"And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there" (1 Kings 17:2-4).
At first the people (including Ahab) who knew of the warning might have been laughing. Baal worshipers were not much into divine weather control. One wonders how many months went by without dew or rain before Ahab began to send out the search parties. And as the months continued to pass—36 of them without a drop of moisture—Ahab and his people progressed from concern to fear to terror. But, apparently, they did not progress to repentance,
The people in the days of Nephi, son of Helaman responded with reformation to a similar circumstance:
"For the earth was smitten that it was dry, and did not yield forth grain in the season of grain; and the whole earth was smitten, even among the Lamanites as well as among the Nephites, so that they were smitten that they did perish by thousands in the more wicked parts of the land. And it came to pass that the people saw that they were about to perish by famine, and they began to remember the Lord their God; and they began to remember the words of Nephi. And the people began to plead with their chief judges and their leaders, that they would say unto Nephi: Behold, we know that thou art a man of God, and therefore cry unto the Lord our God that he turn away from us this famine, lest all the words which thou hast spoken concerning our destruction be fulfilled" (Helaman 11:6-8).
Why had God chosen Elijah to exercise such power? I think it was more than the confluence of need and opportunity. One phrase from 1 Kings 17 tells us much about what made this man powerful: "he went and did according unto the word of the LORD" (I Kings 17:5). How would you like that for an epitaph on your tombstone? Anyway, there must be a correlation between power and obedience.
Ahab would not have dreamed of searching for Elijah in a place where there was no food. But he searched everywhere else. Obadiah told Elijah
"As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not" (1 Kings 18:10).
Note that Ahab believes that rain will only come at the command of Elijah, and still there is no nuance of repentance in him.
The ravens supplied Elijah with food and he remained hidden until the drought dried up the brook. Then Elijah was commanded to go to "Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee" (1 Kings 17:9).
We must learn a lesson from the Lord's care for Elijah. The ravens were ready. A widow was willing. God can help us meet our needs if we are diligent in his service. And he almost always helps us through the intervention of his disciples. The ravens were much more the exception than the rule. Like the manna in the wilderness, they were a special provision for a special time and place. But mostly the help we need and pray for comes from those who, like the widow of Zarephath, are willing to do good. These are people who follow the promptings of the Spirit, without knowing many times that they have been prompted at all.
And not all of that divinely directed assistance concerns physical challenges. I love this little story from the Ensign. It is called "Fresh Crab and French Bread."
It was a typical winter day in San Francisco, cool and damp. We had lived there a few years before and were back renewing memories. Seeing the large, steaming crab vats as we walked along Fisherman's Wharf, I exclaimed, "Oh, let's take some crab home to Emma."
"Crab?" asked my husband. "Why crab?"
"I don't know. Maybe she would enjoy it."
Sensing my ever-present desire to bring cheer to a grieving widow in our ward, Ron counseled me to find a more easily transported gift. He suggested that we find something more suitable in one of the souvenir shops beckoning us.
In and out of the shops we went, searching in vain for just the right memento. Empty-handed and tired, we started for our car, only to pass the crab vats once more.
"Ron, I still want to take some crab to Emma," I pleaded.
He was still resistant to hauling crab 150 miles, especially when I wasn't even sure Emma liked it. Nevertheless, we asked the vendor about transporting un-refrigerated crab that distance.
Soon we were crossing the Bay Bridge with the crab carefully wrapped in many thicknesses of paper; a long loaf of the Wharf's famous french bread was tucked in the side of the sack.
On the trip home my thoughts turned to Emma. I remembered the sacrament meeting ten months before when Emma, her husband, Ed, and their oldest son, David, had spoken just before David left to serve a mission. That was the last time we saw Ed. After accompanying David to the Missionary Training Center, Ed suffered a fatal heart attack while still in Utah. He never returned to California.
Ed was a gifted surgeon, highly respected in our community. His passing was felt deeply. In addition to Emma, he left six children, the youngest just a toddler.
Though many grieved with the family, it was difficult to express their sympathy because Emma was extremely reserved and quiet. Few knew her well. As the months went on, her sorrow did not seem to lessen. Grief and poor health found her withdrawing from activity outside her home.
I was determined to be her friend, her sister in the gospel, and not let fear or personal rejection dilute my concern. Each week I went to her home, sometimes to be invited in while she shared her heartache. Other times she met me at the door but quickly terminated the visit with, "Thank you for coming."
As I rang the doorbell that day I could hear many feet running to answer. The door opened. Emma, surrounded by her children, stood there puzzled at my brown sack and protruding loaf of bread.
"Yes?" she inquired.
My spirits were dampened by her coolness, but I faked enthusiasm over our trip to the city and the gift we had brought.
As she took the fresh crab and french bread, Emma asked, "Is this for any special occasion?"
"No," I replied, "I just thought you might enjoy some crab from the Wharf."
"Thank you very much," she said, expressionless, and closed the door.
I returned to the car and slumped down into the seat, deflated. All I could say to Ron was, "I'm not sure Emma likes crab." We finished the drive home in silence.
Two days later came the following letter:
My dear friends:
I was very touched by your kind gesture last night and feel compelled to share a few thoughts with you.
Yesterday morning began with the usual daily tasks. I was out sweeping the walks when I looked up to the heavens and, noting the vast, billowing, white clouds, asked, "Ed, do you know what day this is? Do dates have a meaning in heaven? Can you possibly know how much I love you and how desperately you are missed; how I long to be taken into your strong arms and held again just for a minute?"
With tear-stained cheeks I wanted to know if he remembered twenty-three years ago, or even two years ago this day.
All day long memories came rushing back. I remembered our first trip to San Francisco and how cold it was as we walked by the steaming crab pots at the Wharf. Ed was so handsome in his Navy uniform. He always took my hand in his, and holding it tight placed both in his overcoat pocket. How comforting the warmth was. I could see him sitting in the cable car, with his boyish grin, a loaf of bread and a crab under each arm. So many times he repeated this procedure.
San Francisco was our playground. I cannot begin to count the number of seminars and scientific meetings we attended there. To learn more was almost a disease with Ed. After each session we always ended our stay by going to the Wharf. A loaf of bread and a fresh crab became symbolic of a wonderful time together. Now that he's gone, I wonder what mysteries of heaven he is exploring, what avenues are being opened to him. So many unanswered questions so impatient I am.
Yesterday was a difficult day to get through. In late afternoon a beautiful floral arrangement arrived with a card from the children declaring their love for me. It was heartwarming. As I looked at the two little ones, then at Eddie and Janet and Miriam—then remembered David—I could see a part of Ed in each and realized that my cup runneth over.
Then at the close of day when I opened the door and saw you standing there with a loaf of bread and a package of fresh crab, it was like a direct message. You denied knowing it was a special day. Therefore I felt it was Ed's way of saying, "Happy anniversary. I do remember."
As ever,
Emma
(Garnee Faulkner, "Fresh Crab and French Bread," Ensign, June 1985, 38)
I love the faith of this widow of Zarephath. I love the faith of all widows. My own mother became a widow when I was 17. I was continually astonished at the depth of her spirituality. The impoverished widow of Zarephath was about to cook her final meal. There was nothing else for her and her son to eat. But when she was asked to share with Elijah, she shared. She listened to his promise of sufficient food—"For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth" [1 Kings 17:14])—believed him, and made him a small meal and trusted in the goodness of God. That trust was rewarded.
"And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah" (1 Kings 17:15,16).
I hope you pause often in your study of these marvelous stories to search for the lessons. Did the Lord intend that we should learn something about ourselves from this story? Did he intend that we should learn something about him?
Here is another story from the Ensign to illustrate the principle that a little can be enough when it is combined with sufficient faith.
One Shovelful of Coal
By Marjorie A. McCormick
World War II had been over for almost two years, but we were still on rations.
It was February 1947, one of the hardest winters anyone could remember. Our home town of Bradford, Yorkshire, England, was the coldest spot in the nation, and it had snowed off and on for six weeks.
By now the drifted snow was higher than our heads—that meant no cart could reach us to deliver our ration of coal. And we were running low.
There were six of us living together that winter—my husband and I, our two children, a young man who had been turned out of his own home when he joined the Church, and a woman whose daughter was serving a mission. We did our best to keep warm, but we were almost out of fuel and we only had electricity at certain hours during the day. (Most of our power stations had been badly bombed during the war.)
It was Saturday when my husband went down to the cellar and carefully sifted the coal from the dust. All that remained was one shovelful of coal and a few cans of coal dust.
At church the next day, we received a shopping bag full of wood. The elders had sawed the wood from old railroad ties and stored it in the basement of the church. With this wood and our little pile of coal, we had fuel enough for one more day.
That evening we knelt in prayer and asked the Lord to help us. As we prayed, our helplessness gave way to a sense of peace. When we went to bed, we felt content to leave the situation in the Lord's hands.
On Monday morning I put some wood, a can of dust, and the remaining coal into the fireplace. Then I waited until afternoon to start the fire—I wanted the house to be as warm as possible when the children got home from school.
The fire lasted until nine or ten that night. We were amazed to discover that all six of us kept warm and comfortable from the one little fire through the entire evening. My husband added a can of dust and one log, but that was all.
The next morning I cleaned out the fireplace and began to lay paper and wood as I had the day before. Then I plucked up my courage and faith and went down to the cellar. Not knowing quite what to expect, I opened the door. There, in the same corner where it had been yesterday, was a stack of coal that looked just like the coal we had burned the night before. I had the strangest feeling—had an angel brought it? I had no answer for my question, but I reverently scooped up the coal and took it upstairs.
How grateful we were that night for our miraculous fire. Our prayers were prayers of appreciation and praise.
The next morning when I went down to the cellar I found another stack of coal in the same corner. It was just enough. This miracle occurred every day that week until Saturday. By that time my husband felt that the snow had melted enough so that he would finally be able to get us some coal.
He took the children's sled, and as soon as he left I went down to the cellar. As soon as I saw the corner I knew that he would bring back some coal; there was no coal in the cellar.
Later that day my husband brought back two lovely hundredweight sacks of coal.
I still have no explanation for this incident. All I know is that it did happen and six of us witnessed it. And we know that God lives and answers prayers (Marjorie A. McCormick, "One Shovelful of Coal," Ensign, Oct. 1979, 49,50).
Have you ever been deterred from giving because you had so little to give? This widow shows us that the attitude with which we give matters much more than the amount we are able to give. If we give all we have, it will always be enough. Remember the small boy with his loaves and fishes? "There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?" (John 6:9). The answer to the question, "what are they among so many?" will always be, "Enough; enough to feed a multitude." When we give all we have, it will always be enough.
Remember the widow in the New Testament making a contribution to the temple treasury?
"And he called [unto him] his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living" (Mark 12:43,44).
Would the Lord withhold blessings from her because she did not give enough? The few drops of oil and the measures of flour, given with open generosity and trust, are more than a tanker of Canola Oil and the harvest of a hundred acres of wheat.
But the miraculous multiplication of the oil and flour was not the greatest miracle this woman was to see. When her son died, Elijah restored him to life and to his mother. I suspect that on a spiritual level, bringing the prophet into our homes will always give us and our children life. Have you brought President Monson's teachings and counsel into your home? In what ways? What blessings have come to you because you have given him access to your family?
II. ELIJAH CHALLENGES THE PRIESTS OF BAAL AND OPENS THE HEAVENS FOR RAIN.
In the third year Elijah made his way to Ahab.
"And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, [Art] thou he that troubleth Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim" (1 Kings 18:17,18).
It is always difficult for the unrepentant to isolate the cause of their distress. Ahab blamed Elijah for the lack of rain, rather than his own iniquity or the iniquity of his people. In what ways might we be like that? Why is it so difficult for us to look inside ourselves for the causes of our problems?
Elijah said to his adversary:
"Now therefore send, [and] gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table" (1 Kings 18:19).
And Ahab had to comply. The need for moisture was a larger consideration than any amount of pride or rebellion. If this man who had sealed the heavens wanted a convocation on Mt. Carmel, he could have it.
Elijah spoke to the 850 false prophets and all of Israel. His question is one for all the ages of men. "How long halt ye between two opinions?" (1 Kings 18:21 ), For goodness sakes, make up your mind about God and your relationship with him!
Do you know people who are struggling to choose between God and the world? Between riches and righteousness? Between friends and faithfulness?
Elijah organized a contest between Baal and God involving divine intervention in the offering of sacrifice. The false prophets and priests failed in their efforts to call forth a display of power from Baal. Then, in the evening, Elijah prayed,
"And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again" (1 Kings 18:36.37).
This man who had sealed the heavens now offered to gathered Israel a second evidence of the power of God.
"Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God" (1 Kings 18:38,39).
The rains came but still no sign or repentance. Jezebel, upon hearing of the death of her false prophets, swore to end the life of Elijah. No multitude of zealous Israelites intervened to protect him. Did the people still fear Jezebel more than God? Elijah was forced to flee for his life, and ended his journey at Mt. Horeb which is Mt. Sinai (see 1 Kings 19:3-8).
III. ELIJAH IS COMFORTED BY THE HOLY GHOST AND INSTRUCTED TO CONTINUE IN GOD'S WORK.
Elijah seemed to be convinced that his ministry had failed and that he was the only faithful Israelite left. He must have wondered how the years of drought and famine, and the spectacular display of power on Carmel could have failed to reclaim his people. Perhaps this the underlying purpose behind the lesson God taught him so eloquently at Mt. Horeb.
"And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice" (1 Kings 19:11,12).
President Packer spoke of this matter of the still small voice and of our need to learn to hear it.
"Many years ago John Burroughs, a naturalist, one summer evening was walking through a crowded park. Above the sounds of city life he heard the song of a bird.
He stopped and listened! Those with him had not heard it. He looked around. No one else had noticed it.
It bothered him that everyone should miss something so beautiful.
He took a coin from his pocket and flipped it into the air. It struck the pavement with a ring, no louder than the song of the bird. Everyone turned; they could hear that!" (Boyd K. Packer, "Prayers and Answers," Ensign, Nov. 1979, 19)
We can all hear the great winds and the earthquakes. We can all hear the sound of money. Those divine and penetrating echoes from eternity are the ones we most often miss.
"It is difficult to separate from the confusion of life that quiet voice of inspiration.
Answers to prayer come in a quite way. The scriptures describe that voice of inspiration as a still, small voice.
If you really try, you can learn to respond to that voice." (Boyd K. Packer, "Prayers and Answers," Ensign, Nov. 1979, 19,20)
Joseph Smith learned to hear that voice clearly. He testified:
"Yea, thus saith the still, small voice, which whispereth through and pierceth all things, and often times it maketh my bones to quake while it maketh manifest . . ." (D&C 85:6).
Do your bones quake from the still small voice, or does the Lord need something a little stronger to get your attention?
Conclusion
There are many lessons to be learned here. One of the most important has to do with the failure of miracles and signs to reform the Israelite nation. The role of miracles in true conversion is problematic. If people could be truly converted—that is, converted to a lifetime of righteousness and obedience—by miracles, God would surely use them. But mostly he does not, not for skeptics and unbelievers. Richard Bushman wrote of this matter. Joseph was surrounded by enemies and doubters. In such conditions,
Joseph Smith might have been expected to answer the skeptics' charges with miraculous "proof." After all, the scriptures promised signs to believers. But Joseph Smith didn't. Why?
The answer lies in the Lord's reply to those who sought signs and miracles as "proof." In July 1830 the Lord told Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery to "require not miracles." (D&C 24:13.) "He that seeketh signs shall see signs, but not unto salvation," the Lord said a year later. (D&C 63:7.) "Faith cometh not by signs," he continued, "but signs follow those that believe. Wherefore, I, the Lord, am not pleased with those among you who have sought after signs and wonders for faith, and not for the good of men unto my glory." (D&C 63:9—12.) Miracles occur to bless the faithful, not to convert skeptics" (Richard Bushman, "I Have a Question," Ensign, Feb. 1990, 62).
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
"The Influence of Righteous and Wicked Leaders"
The Influence of Righteous and Wicked Leaders
Old Testament: Lesson 27
by Ted L. Gibbons
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Introduction
Prophets are not required to do things that make sense to anyone but God. Their prophetic utterances are often received with ridicule and derision. Their actions are frequently misunderstood. But what Ahijah did to Jeroboam must have seemed strange beyond all comprehension:
"And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field: And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces . . ." (1 Kings 11:29,30).
There was of course a divine and significant purpose in the act—it was intended to teach Jeroboam a lesson about the will of God.
"And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee . . . I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes" (1 Kings 11:31,35).
With the call came a great promise:
"And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee" (1 Kings 11:38).
With the calling and the promise of God safely in his heart, we might expect that Israel—at least the 10 tribes—would have a truly and continually righteous king. But we have seen with Saul and David that righteous kings have been in short supply among the descendants of Israel so far.
As we review the division of Israel and subsequent events, we will examine some profound principles of leadership taught in the scriptures.
#1: Rehoboam became king of all 12 tribes when Solomon died, and "all the congregation of Israel come, and spake unto Rehoboam . . ." What they wanted was a little relief. Solomon had taxed them and worked them to exhaustion.
"Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee" (1 Kings 12:4).
This request of the people brings us to our first principle of leadership. Notice where Rehoboam went for advice on the matter of this request.
"And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?" (1 Kings 12:6).
This is Leadership Principle #1 (LP#1). WHEN THINGS REALLY MATTER AND YOU NEED GOOD ADVICE, TALK TO THE GUYS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE.
Joseph Smith said it this way:
"The way to get along in any important matter is to gather unto yourselves wise men, experienced and aged men, to assist in council in all times of trouble. Handsome men are not apt to be wise and strong-minded men; but the strength of a strong-minded man will generally create course features, like the rough, strong bough of the oak. You will always discover in the first glance of a man, in the outlines of his features something of his mind" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section Six 1843—44, p.299).
Paul, in the book of Hebrews, said,
"But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Heb. 5:14).
So Rehoboam brought in the bearded brigade and asked for advice. That was good! And their advice was good, too.
"If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever" (1 Kings 12:7).
"Give them what they have asked for," the old men suggested. "Serve them."
LP#2 comes from 1 Kings 12:7. BE A SERVANT TO THOSE YOU LEAD. You will remember what the Lord said about this:
". . . whosoever shall be great among you, let him be your servant" (Matt. 20:32).
"But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant" (Matt, 23:11).
I got a call early in the morning the day after a putrid evaluation of my abilities by my seminary students. I was devastated by my scores, and my supervisor, who had administered the evaluation, was surprised as well. I could not sleep that night and about 4:00 AM went back to the Seminary to pray and ponder over the matter. At 5:00 AM my supervisor called. "I could not sleep," he said. "I've been sitting in my office trying to understand what is wrong, and I think I have figured it out . . ." And he had! What he told me changed the way I taught and changed my life. He was more than a supervisor. He was a servant. I will be forever grateful for him and to him.
LP#3: IF YOU GO TO KIDS FOR COUNSEL, YOU MAY NOT GET MUCH VALUABLE HELP.
1 Kings 12:8 begins with a word that links it to the counsel given by the elders in the previous verse: "But he forsook the counsel of the old men . . ."
What did Rehoboam do after he abandoned the counsel of the old men? He "consulted with the young men" (1 Kings 12:8). Their advice to the king? "Thou shalt speak unto the people . . . my little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins" (1 Kings 12:10). In other words, tell them you are going to increase their burdens.
My brother-in-law was a bishop when he accompanied his explorers on a river trip in Idaho. One day they stopped in a gorge where a towering rope swing offered the thrill of swinging off a the top of a cliff and dropping 40 feet into a deep pool of water below. The boys coaxed their bishop to give it a try. The other youth leaders—scoutmasters and assistants—told him he was an idiot for even considering it. But he did consider it and did take the advice of the 16- and 17- year-old youths and he did come home with ugliest and largest bruise I had ever seen. It covered his back in blue and yellow and purple from his neck down. He was so worried about being entangled in the rope when he let go that he forgot to plan his fall and hit the water flat on his back.
So Rehoboam delivered his answer to the people:
"And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him; And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions" (I Kings 12:13,14).
The people were not at all pleased.
"So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day. And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only" (1 Kings 12:19,20; The Septuagint says Judah and Benjamin followed Rehoboam).
God refused to give the Southern Kingdom of Judah permission to war against the rebellious tribes following Jeroboam (see 1 Kings 12:22-24) and so the division of Israel's descendants was complete.
LP#4: NEVER MAKE IMPORTANT DECISIONS BASED ON FEAR.
Jeroboam set up his kingdom in the north, but he soon perceived that he had a problem. The temple, that incredible building erected at such sacrifice and expense by his people and the people of Judah, was in Jerusalem, in what was now a foreign nation.
"And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David: If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah" (I K. 12:26,27).
Jeroboam was frightened. What if he lost his kingdom? What if his people, in their love for the temple, turned against him and abandoned him? You remember, don't you, the promise Ahijah made to Jeroboam when he ripped his clothes? Be righteous and the Lord will "build you a sure house."
In his fear, Jeroboam
"the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto [his people], It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan. And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan. And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi" (1 K. 12:28-31).
King Jeroboam, in his fear, led the people into idolatry.
Elder Holland wrote and article in the March 2000 Ensign and said something about LP#4.
"Once there has been illumination, beware the temptation to retreat from a good thing. If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted it and lived for it, it is right now. Don't give up when the pressure mounts. Certainly don't give in to that being who is bent on the destruction of your happiness. Face your doubts. Master your fears. "Cast not away therefore your confidence." (Heb. 10:35) Stay the course and see the beauty of life unfold for you" (Ensign, March 2000, p. 9).
LP#5: TRUST THE PROPHET ALWAYS; NOT JUST IN A CRISIS.
We find a remarkable, almost entertaining inconsistency in Jeroboam. In I K. 14:1, his son gets sick.
"And Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise, I pray thee, and disguise thyself, that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam; and get thee to Shiloh : behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, which told me that I should be king over this people. And take with thee ten loaves, and cracknels, and a cruse of honey, and go to him: he shall tell thee what shall become of the child" (1 K: 14:2,3; emphasis added).
Jeroboam the king had chosen not to trust the prophet's promise about a "sure house," but when he was faced with the loss of his son, he turned to him at once. He sent his disguised wife to try and fool a blind man (14:4). But Ahijah knew who was coming and what she wanted, and had his message ready. He prophesied the destruction of the house of Jeroboam (14:7-11) and concluded with this solemn note: "when thy feet enter into the city, the child shall die" (14:12).
LP#6: REMEMBER HOW MUCH INFLUENCE ONE WICKED MAN IN A POSITION OF POWER CAN HAVE.
"And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him" (2 Chron. 12:1; emphasis added).
1 K.14:l6 tells us that Jeroboam "did sin, and . . . made Israel to sin." What an indictment! It is difficult not to think of Amalikiah:
"Yea, and we also see the great wickedness one very wicked man can cause to take place among the children of men" (Alma 46:9).
How carefully a leader must guard his conduct. As Alma said to Corianton, "When they saw your conduct they would not believe in my words." (Alma 39:11)
LP#7: TEACH PEOPLE FROM THE SCRIPTURES.
The next lesson comes from 2 Chronicles 17, and from a great king of Judah, three generations removed from Rehoboam, named Jehoshaphat. "The Lord was with Jehoshaphat ...he sought to the Lord God. ..and walked in his commandments. . . and his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord. . ." (2 Chron. 17:3,4,6).
In the third year of his reign, "he sent to his princes . . . to teach in the cities of Judah And with them he sent Levites . . . and with them. . . priests." (2 Chron 17:7,8).
"And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the LORD with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people" (2 Chron 17:9).
Jehoshaphat, in an effort to bless his people, caused them to be taught out of the "book of the law"--the scriptures. He knew that when a need arises to solve problems, nothing works better than that.
"Bend your efforts and your activities to stimulating meaningful scripture study among the members of the Church. Often we spend great effort in trying to increase the activity levels in our stakes. We work diligently to raise the percentages of those attending sacrament meetings. We labor to get a higher percentage of our young men on missions. We strive to improve the numbers of those marrying in the temple. All of these are commendable efforts and important to the growth of the kingdom. But when individual members and families immerse themselves in the scriptures regularly and consistently, these other areas of activity will automatically come. Testimonies will increase. Commitment will be strengthened. Families will be fortified. Personal revelation will flow" (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p.44).
LP#8: WHEN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM YOU CAN'T SOLVE, GET DIVINE HELP.
Later on, a confederation of three armies combined to come against Jehoshaphat in battle. When the King was warned of this impending attack, and when he knew that he could not prevail against so great a force, he was fearful. But notice what he did when confronted by a problem for which he knew he had no solution: his actions are so different from those of Jeroboam, who also feared.
"Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah" (2 Chron 20:3).
He set himself to seek the Lord. The foundation of Jehoshaphat's faith lies in his knowledge that if God is on your side, you are never out-numbered.
Jehoshaphat himself began to seek for divine help, and he called on all Judah to fast.
"And Judah gathered themselves together to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD" (2 Chron. 20:4).
Jehoshaphat offered a wonderful prayer, expressing his faith and reminding the Lord of his promises. He begged for the Lord's help and concluded with this declaration:
"And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not; Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit. O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee" (2 Chron. 20:10,11,12, emphasis added).
Then the Spirit of the Lord moved one of the congregation and he spoke to them all with this promise:
"Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's" (2 Chron.20:15).
This man, a prophet to the people, counseled Jehoshaphat to take his people the next day and go down to the place where they would meet the invading army. But he said to them,
"Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you" (2 Chron. 20:17).
What happened the next day is one of the great stories in the Bible. The people of Judah "rose early in the morning and went forth into the wilderness. .." (2 Chron. 20:20). Jehoshaphat gave them this instruction as they departed.
"Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper" (2 Chron 20:20).
"Let us go up to the battle," he said, "with perfect faith, because we believe the word that came to us from the Lord through his prophet."
LP#9: BELIEVE THE WORDS OF THE PROPHETS-BELIEVE THEM ENOUGH TO ACT ON THEM.
And so they went. Jehoshaphat did not appoint archers or pikemen or charioteers or a phalanx of swordsmen to lead the way. " And when he had consulted with his people, he appointed singers. . . as they went out before the army" (2 Chron. 20:21).
Surely no more courageous or unusual congregation ever went into battle. They might have said to their enemies what David said to Goliath:
"Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear~ and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied" (I Samuel 17:45).
And so they came, but without even a sling. They came with hymn books!
"And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another. And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped" (2 Chron. 20:22-24).
The attacking armies turned on each other, "and none escaped." It took three days for Judah to gather the spoils (2 Chron. 20:25). Which brings us to the final principal, one that we must not forget.
LP#10: FALL ON YOUR FACE AT HIS FEET, GIVING HIM THANKS.
"And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the LORD: therefore the name of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah, unto this day" (2 Chron. 20:26, emphasis added).
Of course in this context the word blessed means thanked. They did not forget to give thanks, nor must we. When God raises his banners and marches in our defense; when he smites our enemies before us and opens doors that no mortal effort could open; when he loves us and forgives us and saves us, we must be like the tenth leper. We must fall "down on our face at his feet, giving him thanks." (Luke 17:16)
Old Testament: Lesson 27
by Ted L. Gibbons
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Introduction
Prophets are not required to do things that make sense to anyone but God. Their prophetic utterances are often received with ridicule and derision. Their actions are frequently misunderstood. But what Ahijah did to Jeroboam must have seemed strange beyond all comprehension:
"And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field: And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces . . ." (1 Kings 11:29,30).
There was of course a divine and significant purpose in the act—it was intended to teach Jeroboam a lesson about the will of God.
"And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee . . . I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes" (1 Kings 11:31,35).
With the call came a great promise:
"And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee" (1 Kings 11:38).
With the calling and the promise of God safely in his heart, we might expect that Israel—at least the 10 tribes—would have a truly and continually righteous king. But we have seen with Saul and David that righteous kings have been in short supply among the descendants of Israel so far.
As we review the division of Israel and subsequent events, we will examine some profound principles of leadership taught in the scriptures.
#1: Rehoboam became king of all 12 tribes when Solomon died, and "all the congregation of Israel come, and spake unto Rehoboam . . ." What they wanted was a little relief. Solomon had taxed them and worked them to exhaustion.
"Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee" (1 Kings 12:4).
This request of the people brings us to our first principle of leadership. Notice where Rehoboam went for advice on the matter of this request.
"And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?" (1 Kings 12:6).
This is Leadership Principle #1 (LP#1). WHEN THINGS REALLY MATTER AND YOU NEED GOOD ADVICE, TALK TO THE GUYS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE.
Joseph Smith said it this way:
"The way to get along in any important matter is to gather unto yourselves wise men, experienced and aged men, to assist in council in all times of trouble. Handsome men are not apt to be wise and strong-minded men; but the strength of a strong-minded man will generally create course features, like the rough, strong bough of the oak. You will always discover in the first glance of a man, in the outlines of his features something of his mind" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section Six 1843—44, p.299).
Paul, in the book of Hebrews, said,
"But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Heb. 5:14).
So Rehoboam brought in the bearded brigade and asked for advice. That was good! And their advice was good, too.
"If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever" (1 Kings 12:7).
"Give them what they have asked for," the old men suggested. "Serve them."
LP#2 comes from 1 Kings 12:7. BE A SERVANT TO THOSE YOU LEAD. You will remember what the Lord said about this:
". . . whosoever shall be great among you, let him be your servant" (Matt. 20:32).
"But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant" (Matt, 23:11).
I got a call early in the morning the day after a putrid evaluation of my abilities by my seminary students. I was devastated by my scores, and my supervisor, who had administered the evaluation, was surprised as well. I could not sleep that night and about 4:00 AM went back to the Seminary to pray and ponder over the matter. At 5:00 AM my supervisor called. "I could not sleep," he said. "I've been sitting in my office trying to understand what is wrong, and I think I have figured it out . . ." And he had! What he told me changed the way I taught and changed my life. He was more than a supervisor. He was a servant. I will be forever grateful for him and to him.
LP#3: IF YOU GO TO KIDS FOR COUNSEL, YOU MAY NOT GET MUCH VALUABLE HELP.
1 Kings 12:8 begins with a word that links it to the counsel given by the elders in the previous verse: "But he forsook the counsel of the old men . . ."
What did Rehoboam do after he abandoned the counsel of the old men? He "consulted with the young men" (1 Kings 12:8). Their advice to the king? "Thou shalt speak unto the people . . . my little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins" (1 Kings 12:10). In other words, tell them you are going to increase their burdens.
My brother-in-law was a bishop when he accompanied his explorers on a river trip in Idaho. One day they stopped in a gorge where a towering rope swing offered the thrill of swinging off a the top of a cliff and dropping 40 feet into a deep pool of water below. The boys coaxed their bishop to give it a try. The other youth leaders—scoutmasters and assistants—told him he was an idiot for even considering it. But he did consider it and did take the advice of the 16- and 17- year-old youths and he did come home with ugliest and largest bruise I had ever seen. It covered his back in blue and yellow and purple from his neck down. He was so worried about being entangled in the rope when he let go that he forgot to plan his fall and hit the water flat on his back.
So Rehoboam delivered his answer to the people:
"And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him; And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions" (I Kings 12:13,14).
The people were not at all pleased.
"So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day. And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only" (1 Kings 12:19,20; The Septuagint says Judah and Benjamin followed Rehoboam).
God refused to give the Southern Kingdom of Judah permission to war against the rebellious tribes following Jeroboam (see 1 Kings 12:22-24) and so the division of Israel's descendants was complete.
LP#4: NEVER MAKE IMPORTANT DECISIONS BASED ON FEAR.
Jeroboam set up his kingdom in the north, but he soon perceived that he had a problem. The temple, that incredible building erected at such sacrifice and expense by his people and the people of Judah, was in Jerusalem, in what was now a foreign nation.
"And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David: If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah" (I K. 12:26,27).
Jeroboam was frightened. What if he lost his kingdom? What if his people, in their love for the temple, turned against him and abandoned him? You remember, don't you, the promise Ahijah made to Jeroboam when he ripped his clothes? Be righteous and the Lord will "build you a sure house."
In his fear, Jeroboam
"the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto [his people], It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan. And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan. And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi" (1 K. 12:28-31).
King Jeroboam, in his fear, led the people into idolatry.
Elder Holland wrote and article in the March 2000 Ensign and said something about LP#4.
"Once there has been illumination, beware the temptation to retreat from a good thing. If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted it and lived for it, it is right now. Don't give up when the pressure mounts. Certainly don't give in to that being who is bent on the destruction of your happiness. Face your doubts. Master your fears. "Cast not away therefore your confidence." (Heb. 10:35) Stay the course and see the beauty of life unfold for you" (Ensign, March 2000, p. 9).
LP#5: TRUST THE PROPHET ALWAYS; NOT JUST IN A CRISIS.
We find a remarkable, almost entertaining inconsistency in Jeroboam. In I K. 14:1, his son gets sick.
"And Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise, I pray thee, and disguise thyself, that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam; and get thee to Shiloh : behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, which told me that I should be king over this people. And take with thee ten loaves, and cracknels, and a cruse of honey, and go to him: he shall tell thee what shall become of the child" (1 K: 14:2,3; emphasis added).
Jeroboam the king had chosen not to trust the prophet's promise about a "sure house," but when he was faced with the loss of his son, he turned to him at once. He sent his disguised wife to try and fool a blind man (14:4). But Ahijah knew who was coming and what she wanted, and had his message ready. He prophesied the destruction of the house of Jeroboam (14:7-11) and concluded with this solemn note: "when thy feet enter into the city, the child shall die" (14:12).
LP#6: REMEMBER HOW MUCH INFLUENCE ONE WICKED MAN IN A POSITION OF POWER CAN HAVE.
"And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him" (2 Chron. 12:1; emphasis added).
1 K.14:l6 tells us that Jeroboam "did sin, and . . . made Israel to sin." What an indictment! It is difficult not to think of Amalikiah:
"Yea, and we also see the great wickedness one very wicked man can cause to take place among the children of men" (Alma 46:9).
How carefully a leader must guard his conduct. As Alma said to Corianton, "When they saw your conduct they would not believe in my words." (Alma 39:11)
LP#7: TEACH PEOPLE FROM THE SCRIPTURES.
The next lesson comes from 2 Chronicles 17, and from a great king of Judah, three generations removed from Rehoboam, named Jehoshaphat. "The Lord was with Jehoshaphat ...he sought to the Lord God. ..and walked in his commandments. . . and his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord. . ." (2 Chron. 17:3,4,6).
In the third year of his reign, "he sent to his princes . . . to teach in the cities of Judah And with them he sent Levites . . . and with them. . . priests." (2 Chron 17:7,8).
"And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the LORD with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people" (2 Chron 17:9).
Jehoshaphat, in an effort to bless his people, caused them to be taught out of the "book of the law"--the scriptures. He knew that when a need arises to solve problems, nothing works better than that.
"Bend your efforts and your activities to stimulating meaningful scripture study among the members of the Church. Often we spend great effort in trying to increase the activity levels in our stakes. We work diligently to raise the percentages of those attending sacrament meetings. We labor to get a higher percentage of our young men on missions. We strive to improve the numbers of those marrying in the temple. All of these are commendable efforts and important to the growth of the kingdom. But when individual members and families immerse themselves in the scriptures regularly and consistently, these other areas of activity will automatically come. Testimonies will increase. Commitment will be strengthened. Families will be fortified. Personal revelation will flow" (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p.44).
LP#8: WHEN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM YOU CAN'T SOLVE, GET DIVINE HELP.
Later on, a confederation of three armies combined to come against Jehoshaphat in battle. When the King was warned of this impending attack, and when he knew that he could not prevail against so great a force, he was fearful. But notice what he did when confronted by a problem for which he knew he had no solution: his actions are so different from those of Jeroboam, who also feared.
"Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah" (2 Chron 20:3).
He set himself to seek the Lord. The foundation of Jehoshaphat's faith lies in his knowledge that if God is on your side, you are never out-numbered.
Jehoshaphat himself began to seek for divine help, and he called on all Judah to fast.
"And Judah gathered themselves together to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD" (2 Chron. 20:4).
Jehoshaphat offered a wonderful prayer, expressing his faith and reminding the Lord of his promises. He begged for the Lord's help and concluded with this declaration:
"And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not; Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit. O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee" (2 Chron. 20:10,11,12, emphasis added).
Then the Spirit of the Lord moved one of the congregation and he spoke to them all with this promise:
"Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's" (2 Chron.20:15).
This man, a prophet to the people, counseled Jehoshaphat to take his people the next day and go down to the place where they would meet the invading army. But he said to them,
"Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you" (2 Chron. 20:17).
What happened the next day is one of the great stories in the Bible. The people of Judah "rose early in the morning and went forth into the wilderness. .." (2 Chron. 20:20). Jehoshaphat gave them this instruction as they departed.
"Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper" (2 Chron 20:20).
"Let us go up to the battle," he said, "with perfect faith, because we believe the word that came to us from the Lord through his prophet."
LP#9: BELIEVE THE WORDS OF THE PROPHETS-BELIEVE THEM ENOUGH TO ACT ON THEM.
And so they went. Jehoshaphat did not appoint archers or pikemen or charioteers or a phalanx of swordsmen to lead the way. " And when he had consulted with his people, he appointed singers. . . as they went out before the army" (2 Chron. 20:21).
Surely no more courageous or unusual congregation ever went into battle. They might have said to their enemies what David said to Goliath:
"Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear~ and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied" (I Samuel 17:45).
And so they came, but without even a sling. They came with hymn books!
"And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another. And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped" (2 Chron. 20:22-24).
The attacking armies turned on each other, "and none escaped." It took three days for Judah to gather the spoils (2 Chron. 20:25). Which brings us to the final principal, one that we must not forget.
LP#10: FALL ON YOUR FACE AT HIS FEET, GIVING HIM THANKS.
"And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the LORD: therefore the name of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah, unto this day" (2 Chron. 20:26, emphasis added).
Of course in this context the word blessed means thanked. They did not forget to give thanks, nor must we. When God raises his banners and marches in our defense; when he smites our enemies before us and opens doors that no mortal effort could open; when he loves us and forgives us and saves us, we must be like the tenth leper. We must fall "down on our face at his feet, giving him thanks." (Luke 17:16)
"King Solomon: Man of Wisdom, Man of Foolishness"
King Solomon: Man of Wisdom, Man of Foolishness
Old Testament: Lesson 26
by Ted L. Gibbons
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Introduction
President Heber J. Grant made an applicable remark:
There is but one path of safety to the Latter-day Saints, and that is the path of duty. It is not a testimony, it is not marvelous manifestations, it is not knowing that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true, that it is the plan of salvation, it is not actually knowing that the Savior is the Redeemer, and that Joseph Smith was His prophet, that will save you and me, but it is the keeping of the commandments of God, the living the life of a Latter-day Saint (Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1915, p.82).
To the interesting list of things that will not provide safety, we might add wisdom. Solomon was the wisest of all men,
So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom. And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart (1 Kings 10:23,24).
It was a gift Solomon had sought and the Lord had provided (I Kings 3:9-11). But it did not save him, because somehow he was turned out of the path of his duty.
I. THE LORD BLESSES SOLOMON WITH WISDOM, RICHES, AND HONOR.
Have you seen the movie Aladdin? If you had your own genie and three wishes, what would you ask for? What an opportunity that would be. Solomon was invited by the Lord to ask for anything: "In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee" (1 Kings 3:5). Whenever we have opportunities to choose, whether they be of this significance or not, we show clearly whether or not we hunger and thirst after righteousness. Solomon certainly did. He was a man of exceptional righteousness. He saw the Lord on at least two different occasions (1 Kings 3:5; 9:2). He sought for blessings that would enable him to bless others (1 Kings 3:7-9). He judged Israel with insight and inspiration—with unparalleled wisdom&mdask;as is shown in the case of the two harlots who claimed the same baby (1 Kings 3:16-28). How wise was Solomon? The Lord said to him:
I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee (1 Kings 3:12).
For much of his reign, Solomon presided over a kingdom of unsurpassed peace and prosperity. The Queen of Sheba visited him and concluded that everything she had heard of Solomon was understated.
Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom. Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice (1 Kings 10:8,9).
The record suggests that Solomon received annually 666 talents of gold (1 Kings 10:14). At today's prices that is probably in the neighborhood of $15,000,000.00. The description of his wealth is astonishing (1 Kings 10:14-23).
II. KING SOLOMON DIRECTS THE CONSTRUCTION OF A GREAT TEMPLE AND HAS A PALACE BUILT FOR HIMSELF.
David longed to build a temple, but the Lord would not allow it.
Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: [As for me], I [had] in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building: But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou [hast been] a man of war, and hast shed blood (1 Chron. 28:2,3).
Of all the sons of David, Solomon was chosen for the throne and for this sacred duty.
And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel . And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father (1 Chron. 28:5,6).
David gave the charge to Solomon, and also gave him the pattern for the temple, which he had received by revelation.
And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it. Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat, And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things: Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the LORD (1 Chron. 28:9-13, emphasis added).
David gave his son the pattern for the temple, which he had received "by the [S]pirit."
All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern (1 Chron 28:19).
The Lord made a powerful promise to the children of Israel as they labored on the temple.
Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father: And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel (1 Kings 6:12,13).
My son wrote home from his mission field in California and sent a photo of himself standing on a hillside with his left hand raised and his index finger pointing to the roof of a house on the slope of that hill. He wrote a caption for the photo: Meg Ryan's house! I guess it is pretty impressive to be able to say that you live and work in an area where somebody as famous as Meg Ryan lives. But I have often thought that I should have sent a photo back to him—one of me with my finger on the top of the Timpanogos Temple—to which I wold have added the caption, God's house!
The Lord's promise in verse 6:13 to dwell among his people is a sobering reminder of the implications of the explosion in temple construction. In a way never seen before in the history of the world, God dwells among his people.
Brigham Young said,
I have determined, by the help of the Lord and this people, to build him a house. You may ask, "Will he dwell in it?" He may do just as he pleases; it is not my prerogative to dictate to the Lord. But we will build him a house, that, if he pleases to pay us a visit, he may have a place to dwell in, or if he should send any of his servants, we may have suitable accommodations for them. I have built myself a house, and the most of you have done the same, and now, shall we not build the Lord a house? (JD, vol. 1:p. 376).
President Hinckley has determined, with the help of the Lord, to build him a multitude of 'houses.' How blessed his people are to have so may places where we can go and receive his richest blessings and highest ordinances.
The 6th chapter of 1 Kings ends with a this declaration:
And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which [is] the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it (1 Kings 6:38).
Notice how the next verse (1 Kings 7:1) begins. What do you think the historian who wrote Kings meant to convey to us by using the word 'But' to begin the description of Solomon's own house?
But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house.
Note the size of the temple:
And the house which king Solomon built for the LORD, the length thereof was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits (2 Kings 6:2).
And the size of Solomon's house?
He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon; the length thereof was an hundred cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits, upon four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars (1 Kings 7:2).
Does it matter that Solomon spent more than twice as much time and made a bigger house for himself than he made for the Lord? Is it possible to anticipate the future troubles of this great king because of what we see happening here?
As a point of interest you might note that Solomon's temple was about 100 feet long and 30 feet wide and 45 feet high. Modern mini-temples average about 110 feet by 80 feet, and are about 50 feet high. The Salt Lake Temple is 186.5 feet long and 118.8,5 feet wide. It is 210 feet high.
The temple of Solomon was adored with incredible riches. Note in 2 Chron. 28:14-18 that David had prepared 108,000 talents of gold for use in the temple. Gold today is selling for about $600.00 per ounce. Each talent weighed just over 75 pounds (75.6 lbs). A talent of gold was worth $725,760.00 at today's prices. But David had 108,000 talents. Thus, the gold of the temple alone was worth over $78 billion (see 1 Kings 6:20-22).
III. SOLOMON DEDICATES THE TEMPLE.
The dedicatory prayer for this temple is in 1 Kings 8:23-53. It is quite wonderful and worth a careful reading or two for what it teaches about those who reverence the temple in any age of time. You will discover as you read (and mark!) that the temple can help us resolve our most serious problems. This may be because the Lord pays special attention to what happens at his house. Solomon prayed that the Lord's
. . . eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there . . . (1 Kings 8:29).
Here are some of the problems mentioned in the prayer with which involvement in the temple can help.
unanswered prayers (8:30)
encroaching enemies (8:33)
drought (8:35)
famine, disease, plague (8:37)
a plague of the heart (8:38)
repentance (8:46,47)
President Boyd K. Packer understood what the temple can do for us. He said,
Temples are the very center of the spiritual strength of the Church. We should expect that the adversary will try to interfere with us as a church and with us individually as we seek to participate in this sacred and inspired work. Temple work brings so much resistance because it is the source of so much spiritual power to the Latter-day Saints and to the entire Church (Boyd K. Packer, "The Holy Temple," Ensign, Feb. 1995, 36).
How can we overcome the 'resistance' that so often surrounds our efforts to do temple work? How can we insure that we are the recipients of the spiritual power that is available there?
IV. SOLOMON BECOMES EXCESSIVELY WEALTHY AND MARRIES MANY NON-ISRAELITE WOMEN WHO PERSUADE HIM TO WORSHIP IDOLS.
1 Kings 10 describes the wealth of Solomon and some of the ways in which he used that wealth. Does this description give you any concerns? Ought this wealth to have been used in any different way? I wonder if there were any poor in Israel, or any homeless. Were there hungry and sick and afflicted whose lives might have been blessed by the gold that went into the shields and chargers and drinking vessels and around his throne.
Note that the first word of 1 Kings 11 is the same as the first word of 1 Kings 7. In spite of his remarkable accomplishments and his righteousness, something happened to Solomon. The record suggests that Solomon, in order to solidify and protect his political alliances, married many women not of the covenant. What kinds of rationalization might have led Solomon to this terrible mistake?
But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you; for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods; Solomon clave unto these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, and it became as the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, as David his father, and went not fully after the Lord (1 Kings 11:1-6, JST).
The cost of Solomon's rebellion was the same as the cost of Saul's. God took away most of the kingdom and gave it to another, more faithful man.
And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field: And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces: And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee . . . (1 Kings 11:29-31).
Conclusion
The commandment to marry in the covenant is one about which God has never been ambiguous. Beginning in Genesis 24 with Isaac and Rebekah, and continuing throughout the ages to our own time, the prophets have made the will of God perfectly clear. Solomon is only one of many examples of the wisdom of these abundant warnings.
God intended when He led Israel out of Egypt, that there should be no intermarriages between Israel and the nations which surrounded them, and a great many of the evils that came upon Israel were due to this. I may say, however, for the men of this Church, that there have been but comparatively few instances (probably because there have not been so many temptations for them) of their taking wives who were not of the Saints. They have not married strange women as did many of the Israelites, as did Solomon the wise king, which God gave to Israel. He married strange wives, and through these marriages he was led away into idolatry in his old age, and the anger of God was brought upon him and his house because of this. Many of the evils that fell upon Israel were due to intermarriage on their part with women who were not of their faith, and who were from nations who did not have the same worship that Israel had. Marriages of this nature are contrary to the command of God. We are commanded not to marry with those who are not of our faith, and no woman ever did it, no girl ever did it that has not sooner or later had sorrow because of this. God is not pleased with such marriages, and it is not in the nature of things to expect blessings to follow such intermarriages (Journal of Discourses, Vol.26, p.319, George Q. Cannon, August 26th, 1883).
Old Testament: Lesson 26
by Ted L. Gibbons
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Introduction
President Heber J. Grant made an applicable remark:
There is but one path of safety to the Latter-day Saints, and that is the path of duty. It is not a testimony, it is not marvelous manifestations, it is not knowing that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true, that it is the plan of salvation, it is not actually knowing that the Savior is the Redeemer, and that Joseph Smith was His prophet, that will save you and me, but it is the keeping of the commandments of God, the living the life of a Latter-day Saint (Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1915, p.82).
To the interesting list of things that will not provide safety, we might add wisdom. Solomon was the wisest of all men,
So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom. And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart (1 Kings 10:23,24).
It was a gift Solomon had sought and the Lord had provided (I Kings 3:9-11). But it did not save him, because somehow he was turned out of the path of his duty.
I. THE LORD BLESSES SOLOMON WITH WISDOM, RICHES, AND HONOR.
Have you seen the movie Aladdin? If you had your own genie and three wishes, what would you ask for? What an opportunity that would be. Solomon was invited by the Lord to ask for anything: "In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee" (1 Kings 3:5). Whenever we have opportunities to choose, whether they be of this significance or not, we show clearly whether or not we hunger and thirst after righteousness. Solomon certainly did. He was a man of exceptional righteousness. He saw the Lord on at least two different occasions (1 Kings 3:5; 9:2). He sought for blessings that would enable him to bless others (1 Kings 3:7-9). He judged Israel with insight and inspiration—with unparalleled wisdom&mdask;as is shown in the case of the two harlots who claimed the same baby (1 Kings 3:16-28). How wise was Solomon? The Lord said to him:
I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee (1 Kings 3:12).
For much of his reign, Solomon presided over a kingdom of unsurpassed peace and prosperity. The Queen of Sheba visited him and concluded that everything she had heard of Solomon was understated.
Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom. Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice (1 Kings 10:8,9).
The record suggests that Solomon received annually 666 talents of gold (1 Kings 10:14). At today's prices that is probably in the neighborhood of $15,000,000.00. The description of his wealth is astonishing (1 Kings 10:14-23).
II. KING SOLOMON DIRECTS THE CONSTRUCTION OF A GREAT TEMPLE AND HAS A PALACE BUILT FOR HIMSELF.
David longed to build a temple, but the Lord would not allow it.
Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: [As for me], I [had] in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building: But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou [hast been] a man of war, and hast shed blood (1 Chron. 28:2,3).
Of all the sons of David, Solomon was chosen for the throne and for this sacred duty.
And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel . And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father (1 Chron. 28:5,6).
David gave the charge to Solomon, and also gave him the pattern for the temple, which he had received by revelation.
And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it. Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat, And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things: Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the LORD (1 Chron. 28:9-13, emphasis added).
David gave his son the pattern for the temple, which he had received "by the [S]pirit."
All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern (1 Chron 28:19).
The Lord made a powerful promise to the children of Israel as they labored on the temple.
Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father: And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel (1 Kings 6:12,13).
My son wrote home from his mission field in California and sent a photo of himself standing on a hillside with his left hand raised and his index finger pointing to the roof of a house on the slope of that hill. He wrote a caption for the photo: Meg Ryan's house! I guess it is pretty impressive to be able to say that you live and work in an area where somebody as famous as Meg Ryan lives. But I have often thought that I should have sent a photo back to him—one of me with my finger on the top of the Timpanogos Temple—to which I wold have added the caption, God's house!
The Lord's promise in verse 6:13 to dwell among his people is a sobering reminder of the implications of the explosion in temple construction. In a way never seen before in the history of the world, God dwells among his people.
Brigham Young said,
I have determined, by the help of the Lord and this people, to build him a house. You may ask, "Will he dwell in it?" He may do just as he pleases; it is not my prerogative to dictate to the Lord. But we will build him a house, that, if he pleases to pay us a visit, he may have a place to dwell in, or if he should send any of his servants, we may have suitable accommodations for them. I have built myself a house, and the most of you have done the same, and now, shall we not build the Lord a house? (JD, vol. 1:p. 376).
President Hinckley has determined, with the help of the Lord, to build him a multitude of 'houses.' How blessed his people are to have so may places where we can go and receive his richest blessings and highest ordinances.
The 6th chapter of 1 Kings ends with a this declaration:
And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which [is] the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it (1 Kings 6:38).
Notice how the next verse (1 Kings 7:1) begins. What do you think the historian who wrote Kings meant to convey to us by using the word 'But' to begin the description of Solomon's own house?
But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house.
Note the size of the temple:
And the house which king Solomon built for the LORD, the length thereof was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits (2 Kings 6:2).
And the size of Solomon's house?
He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon; the length thereof was an hundred cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits, upon four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars (1 Kings 7:2).
Does it matter that Solomon spent more than twice as much time and made a bigger house for himself than he made for the Lord? Is it possible to anticipate the future troubles of this great king because of what we see happening here?
As a point of interest you might note that Solomon's temple was about 100 feet long and 30 feet wide and 45 feet high. Modern mini-temples average about 110 feet by 80 feet, and are about 50 feet high. The Salt Lake Temple is 186.5 feet long and 118.8,5 feet wide. It is 210 feet high.
The temple of Solomon was adored with incredible riches. Note in 2 Chron. 28:14-18 that David had prepared 108,000 talents of gold for use in the temple. Gold today is selling for about $600.00 per ounce. Each talent weighed just over 75 pounds (75.6 lbs). A talent of gold was worth $725,760.00 at today's prices. But David had 108,000 talents. Thus, the gold of the temple alone was worth over $78 billion (see 1 Kings 6:20-22).
III. SOLOMON DEDICATES THE TEMPLE.
The dedicatory prayer for this temple is in 1 Kings 8:23-53. It is quite wonderful and worth a careful reading or two for what it teaches about those who reverence the temple in any age of time. You will discover as you read (and mark!) that the temple can help us resolve our most serious problems. This may be because the Lord pays special attention to what happens at his house. Solomon prayed that the Lord's
. . . eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there . . . (1 Kings 8:29).
Here are some of the problems mentioned in the prayer with which involvement in the temple can help.
unanswered prayers (8:30)
encroaching enemies (8:33)
drought (8:35)
famine, disease, plague (8:37)
a plague of the heart (8:38)
repentance (8:46,47)
President Boyd K. Packer understood what the temple can do for us. He said,
Temples are the very center of the spiritual strength of the Church. We should expect that the adversary will try to interfere with us as a church and with us individually as we seek to participate in this sacred and inspired work. Temple work brings so much resistance because it is the source of so much spiritual power to the Latter-day Saints and to the entire Church (Boyd K. Packer, "The Holy Temple," Ensign, Feb. 1995, 36).
How can we overcome the 'resistance' that so often surrounds our efforts to do temple work? How can we insure that we are the recipients of the spiritual power that is available there?
IV. SOLOMON BECOMES EXCESSIVELY WEALTHY AND MARRIES MANY NON-ISRAELITE WOMEN WHO PERSUADE HIM TO WORSHIP IDOLS.
1 Kings 10 describes the wealth of Solomon and some of the ways in which he used that wealth. Does this description give you any concerns? Ought this wealth to have been used in any different way? I wonder if there were any poor in Israel, or any homeless. Were there hungry and sick and afflicted whose lives might have been blessed by the gold that went into the shields and chargers and drinking vessels and around his throne.
Note that the first word of 1 Kings 11 is the same as the first word of 1 Kings 7. In spite of his remarkable accomplishments and his righteousness, something happened to Solomon. The record suggests that Solomon, in order to solidify and protect his political alliances, married many women not of the covenant. What kinds of rationalization might have led Solomon to this terrible mistake?
But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you; for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods; Solomon clave unto these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, and it became as the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, as David his father, and went not fully after the Lord (1 Kings 11:1-6, JST).
The cost of Solomon's rebellion was the same as the cost of Saul's. God took away most of the kingdom and gave it to another, more faithful man.
And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field: And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces: And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee . . . (1 Kings 11:29-31).
Conclusion
The commandment to marry in the covenant is one about which God has never been ambiguous. Beginning in Genesis 24 with Isaac and Rebekah, and continuing throughout the ages to our own time, the prophets have made the will of God perfectly clear. Solomon is only one of many examples of the wisdom of these abundant warnings.
God intended when He led Israel out of Egypt, that there should be no intermarriages between Israel and the nations which surrounded them, and a great many of the evils that came upon Israel were due to this. I may say, however, for the men of this Church, that there have been but comparatively few instances (probably because there have not been so many temptations for them) of their taking wives who were not of the Saints. They have not married strange women as did many of the Israelites, as did Solomon the wise king, which God gave to Israel. He married strange wives, and through these marriages he was led away into idolatry in his old age, and the anger of God was brought upon him and his house because of this. Many of the evils that fell upon Israel were due to intermarriage on their part with women who were not of their faith, and who were from nations who did not have the same worship that Israel had. Marriages of this nature are contrary to the command of God. We are commanded not to marry with those who are not of our faith, and no woman ever did it, no girl ever did it that has not sooner or later had sorrow because of this. God is not pleased with such marriages, and it is not in the nature of things to expect blessings to follow such intermarriages (Journal of Discourses, Vol.26, p.319, George Q. Cannon, August 26th, 1883).
"Let Everything That Hath Breath Praise the Lord"
Let Everything That Hath Breath Praise the Lord
Old Testament: Lesson 25
by Ted L. Gibbons
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Introduction
The book of Psalms is, among other things, a collection of Israelite hymns. It is the longest book of the Bible, and is filled with testimony and doctrine.
The names "Psalms" and "Psalter" come from the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament), where they originally referred to stringed instruments . . . then to songs sung with their accompaniment. The traditional Hebrew title is Tehillim [meaning "praises" . . .] even though many of the Psalms are Tephillot [meaning "prayers"]. In fact, one of the first collections included in the book was titled "The Prayers of David, Son of Jesse" (Ps. 72:70) (NIV Study Bible, p. 781).
Take a moment and glance at some of the Psalms. Can you see the difference between a prayer and a praise? Psalm 9 begins with these words: "I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart . . ." Psalm 11 begins, "In the Lord I put my trust . . ." Psalm 12 begins with the plea, "Help, Lord . . ." Psalm 14 teaches that
"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God." The distinguishing characteristic is this one: are the verses to God, or about God.
The identification of the Psalms as prayers and praises is an interesting parallel to our own hymnal. Pick up a hymn book and look at almost any hymn. Is it a prayer (sung to the Father and/or the Son) or is it a praise (sung about the Father and/or the Son and their work)? Which of the following are prayers? Which are praises?
"The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning" (#2)
"We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet" (#19)
"God of Power, God of Right" (#20)
"Joseph Smith's First Prayer" (#26)
"Come, All Ye Saints of Zion" (#38)
"Come, O Thou King of Kings" (#59)
The Gospel Doctrine lesson manual provides a useful doctrinal approach to the Psalms. When I teach Psalms, I spend time teaching some of the doctrinal insights, and I also spend time teaching the importance and purposes of music. But in seminary and institute classes I have more time to teach the book of Psalms than you will have in Sunday School. Since the Sunday School manual gives an excellent doctrinal overview, I have chosen in this cyberspace Sunday School to offer some thoughts and insights about music and the book of Psalms.
I. THE SONG OF THE HEART.
The singing of our sacred hymns, written by the servants of God, has a powerful effect in converting people to the principles of the Gospel, and in promoting peace and spiritual growth. Singing is a prayer to the Lord, as He has said: "For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads" (Doctrine and Covenants 25:12) (President Heber J. Grant: Improvement Era, September 1940).
Every word Pres. Grant spoke of our hymns is also true of the Psalms. Their language and doctrine and lyrical qualities (even without the music) can have "a powerful effect in converting people to the principles of the Gospel, and in promoting peace and spiritual growth."
David spoke of this power when he wrote "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times" (Psalms 12:6).
The hymns, like the Psalms, have power to touch us and teach us.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland told of an inactive man who was reclaimed by an experience in the shed behind his house. In terror he had fled there, although he did not know the source of his fear. For the first time in half a century, he fell to his knees and prayed: "O Lord, save me from whatever it is that terrifies me so."
Quaking, trembling, perspiring on his knees in this shed out behind his home, he continued his prayer. He said, "I was lisping like a child the only prayers I knew, when there came into my heart the words of a song that I had not heard nor sung for that half century. I think I did not ever know the words, and I surely do not know them now. But I heard them with symphonic accompaniment and angelic choirs. I heard them, music and word, in that shed behind my home in the middle of that night."
The hymn was "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet."
The man said, "I heard the angels sing. I've never missed a church meeting since that day. I've never smoked a cigarette, and I've tried to do everything I should have done for all those years. But I want you to know that I did not then, and probably do not now know, the words to the hymn that I heard sung that night in a shed behind my home with celestial symphony and an angelic choir." (From a speech by Jeffrey Holland, "Remembered and Nourished by the Good Word of God," given at the Marriott Center, BYU, Sept. 26, 1976.)
President Grant remembered this story:
I recall one incident showing how song has the power to soothe irritated feelings and bring harmony to the hearts of men who are filled with a contentious spirit. It occurred many years ago, and involved a quarrel between two old and faithful brethren whose membership dated back to the days of Nauvoo. These men had been full in integrity and devotion to the work of the Lord. They had been through many of the hardships of Nauvoo, and had suffered the drivings and persecutions of the Saints, as well as the hardships of pioneering incident to the early settlement of the West. These men had quarreled over some business affairs and finally concluded that they would try to get President John Taylor to help them adjust their difficulties.
John Taylor was then the president of the Council of the Twelve Apostles. These brethren pledged their word of honor that they would faithfully abide by whatever decision Brother Taylor might render. Like many others, even in these days, they were not willing to accept the conclusions and counsels of their teachers, or bishops, or presidents of stakes, who would have been the authorized persons, in their order, to consult, and which would have been the proper course to pursue, but they must have some higher authority. Having been personally acquainted with President Brigham Young, in the days of Nauvoo, and feeling their importance in their own devotion to the work of the Lord, nothing short of an Apostle's advice would seem to satisfy them.
Accordingly they called on President Taylor, but did not immediately tell him what their trouble was, but explained that they had seriously quarreled and asked him if he would listen to their story and render his decision. President Taylor willingly consented. But he said: "Brethren, before I hear your case, I would like very much to sing one of the songs of Zion for you."
Now President Taylor was a very capable singer, and interpreted sweetly and with spirit, our sacred hymns. He sang one of our hymns to the two brethren. Seeing its effect, he remarked that he never heard one of the songs of Zion but that he wanted to listen to one more, and so asked them to listen while he sang another. Of course, they consented. They both seemed to enjoy it; and, having sung the second song, he remarked that he had heard there is luck in odd numbers and so with their consent he would sing still another, which he did. Then, in his jocular way, he remarked: "Now brethren, I do not want to wear you out, but if you will forgive me, and listen to one more hymn, I promise to stop singing, and will hear your case."
The story goes that when President Taylor had finished the fourth song, the brethren were melted to tears, got up, shook hands, and asked President Taylor to excuse them for having called upon him, and for taking up his time. They then departed without his even knowing what their difficulties were.
President Taylor's singing had reconciled their feelings toward each other. The Spirit of the Lord had entered their hearts, and the hills of difference that rose between them had been leveled and become as nothing. Love and brotherhood had developed in their souls, and the trifles over which they had quarreled, had become to no consequence in their sight. The songs of the heart had filled them with the spirit of reconciliation.
Let us not forget our hymns when we go to the house of worship. Let the congregation sing; and by all means let the choir members become familiar with the beautiful sentiments that are contained in our hymns, and so shall our Father in heaven delight in the songs of our hearts, which shall become prayers unto Him, and which He will graciously answer with blessings upon our heads. (President Heber J. Grant: Improvement Era, September 1940)
The significance and power of music are a matter for some reflection. For the truth, as expressed in D&C 25:12, is that when we sing sacred hymns from our heart, we pray. Please note that the revelation makes no mention of musical talent or of the song of the vocal cords. Any sacred thoughts that come from our hearts accompanied by worthy music ascend to heaven as prayers.
II. SING REDEEMING LOVE.
Alma referred to this kind of music in his sermon to the people of Zarahemla. He encouraged them to remember those who were in captivity in the Land of Nephi and who were rescued from sin and bondage by the goodness of God. "They were loosed, and their souls did expand, and they did sing redeeming love. And I say unto you that they are saved" (Alma 5:9, emphasis added). The Anti-Nephi Lehies were also "brought to sing redeeming love" (Alma 26:13).
It must be this longing to "sing redeeming love" that turns a song into a prayer. The scriptures are filled with examples. When Christ came among "an innumerable company of the spirits of the just" in the Spirit World to deliver them from the bands of death (D&C 138:12), "they sang praises to his holy name." (D&C 138:24.) When Christ was about to depart from the room of the Last Supper to go the Garden of Gethsemane, he and his disciples sang a hymn (see Matthew 26:30). Isaiah instructed us to sing when we are resurrected. "Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust . . . the earth shall cast out the dead" (Isaiah 26:19).
And the graves of the saints shall be opened; and they shall come forth and stand on the right hand of the Lamb, when he shall stand upon Mount Zion, and upon the holy city, the New Jerusalem; and they shall sing the song of the Lamb, day and night forever and ever. (D&C 133:56).
Israel sang after they had crossed the Red Sea. "I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously . . ." (Exodus 15:1). The Doctrine and Covenants gives the words of a song to be sung, a new song, when the time comes that "all shall know me, who remain, even from the least unto the greatest . . ." (D&C 84:98; the words of the song are in verses 99-102).
I think we must read the Psalms with this sense of music. Most of them are written as prayers, and probably all of them were written to be sung. When we sing words and sentiments like these, what happens is as real as what happens when we are on our knees, praying.
III. MAKING SOUNDS; MAKING MUSIC.
The Psalms direct us to "praise the Lord" over one hundred and fifty times. This is the most often repeated admonition in the book. Look at the words of Psalm 150, the final Psalm:
PRAISE ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD (Ps. 150:1-6)
In addition, at least forty-six times the scriptures speak of singing those praises to the Savior and other members of the Godhead. For example:
And he hath brought to pass the redemption of the world, whereby he that is found guiltless before him at the judgment day hath it given unto him to dwell in the presence of God in his kingdom, to sing ceaseless praises with the choirs above, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which are one God, in a state of happiness which hath no end (Mormon 7:7).
We must not miss opportunities to sing redeeming love—to sing praises—because of how we sing. The quality that matters in music is why we sing.
I sang with the Utah State University Institute Choir at a session of General Conference many years ago. I had what I thought was the misfortune to be seated next to a young man who sang every note off-key and every note as loud as he could! I am sorry to confess that I was offended. With my limited musical ability I could easily recognize that I was making a much more useful contribution to the spirit of our music than he was. I have since learned that I had the matter exactly backwards.
Alexander Schreiner, one of the great Tabernacle organists, recalled a story about someone who asked a music director how he could stand to hear Brother Stanton bellow off-key at Church gatherings. "The wise old leader replied: Brother Stanton is one of our most devout worshippers, and when he bellows he is a supreme musician . . . . Don't pay too much attention to the sounds he makes. If you do, you may miss the music." (Music and the Gospel, p. 16; cited in the Ensign, March 2000, p. 19.)
I was so worried about the sounds I was hearing that I missed the music I was hearing. I am certain that our Father never pays too much attention to the sounds we make. If we are devout in our worship, God does not hear the missed notes or care about the dissonance. He hears the prayers.
When we listen to this choir . . . we listen to music, and music is truth. Good music is gracious praise of God. It is delightsome to the ear, and it is one of our most acceptable methods of worshipping God. And those who sing . . . should sing with the spirit and with the understanding. They should not sing merely because it is a profession, or because they have a good voice; but they should sing also because they have the spirit of it and can enter into the spirit of prayer and praise to God who gave them their sweet voices. (Joseph F. Smith, Conference Report, Oct. 1899, p. 69.)
President Grant had some challenges with singing. On one occasion he spoke of the difficulty he experienced in singing well.
I remarked some four months ago to Brother Horace S. Ensign that I would be willing to spend four or five months of my spare time if I could only learn to sing . . . one hymn. He told me that any one could learn to sing that had perseverance. I said to him if there was anything that I had it was perseverance. So I suggested that we sit down and I would take my first lesson of two hours on [the Doxology]. I have been continuing the lessons on it ever since. I have sung it as high as 115 times in one day. I have practiced on the "Doxology" between three and four hundred times, and there are only four lines, and I cannot sing it yet. I traveled from Holbrook, Arizona, to St. Johns, with Brothers Clawson and Kimball, some months ago, and I sang one hundred times that day and gave them nervous prostration. Now I tried to sing "O My Father" at Snowflake, Arizona, and I only got as far as the "O," and I did not get that right (Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1900, p.61).
But on another occasion, in a more serious moment, he taught this lesson about singing:
I have no ambition to become a singer. But I do feel that there is a great deal lost in the homes of the people by not having the songs of Zion sung therein. Many a missionary robs himself of strength and power and ability to accomplish good, and to make friends, by not knowing how to sing. . . . It is not the eloquence that you possess which will carry conviction to the hearts of the people, but it is the Spirit of Almighty God that is burning in your hearts, and your desire for the salvation of souls. Brigham Young said that the Spirit of the Lord would do more to convert people than the eloquence of men. And I say that the singing of the songs of Zion , though imperfectly, with the inspiration of God, will touch the hearts of the honest more effectively than if sung well without the Spirit of God. Sing with the Spirit of God. Love the words that you sing. I love the songs of Zion (Heber J. Grant, Gospel Standards, p.170).
IV. DOCTRINAL DIMENSIONS. The Old Testament is probably the least-read book of scripture, and the book of Psalms is among the least read books of the Old Testament. To the casual reader the book may seem repetitive, even boring. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Psalms are alive with the power of the word. Doctrinal declarations flow continuously from its pages in powerful, refreshing waves. Testimony and love fill its pages from beginning to end.
Set a goal to read the Psalms this year. You might not want to read them straight through. Like the hymns we sing in our meetings, they are scriptural and spiritual garnish. Read one or two of the psalms each day and in 2-3 months you will have read (and loved) them all. You might find yourself inclined, as I have been, to write a psalm or two of your own.
Conclusion
As you read and ponder, you will be taught about the mortal ministry and mission of the Messiah, about the blessings reserved for the righteous, about the judgements that await the wicked, about the establishment and beauty of Zion, about the sweetness to be found in the temple, about the joy of salvation and of seeing the Lord's face. You will read and feel the continuous testimony of God's goodness and greatness, the persistent testimony of the creation and the Creator; you will encounter the wonder and power and voice of God. You will receive instruction about the restoration, work for the dead, the power of the scriptures, and the everlasting mercy of the Son.
Old Testament: Lesson 25
by Ted L. Gibbons
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Introduction
The book of Psalms is, among other things, a collection of Israelite hymns. It is the longest book of the Bible, and is filled with testimony and doctrine.
The names "Psalms" and "Psalter" come from the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament), where they originally referred to stringed instruments . . . then to songs sung with their accompaniment. The traditional Hebrew title is Tehillim [meaning "praises" . . .] even though many of the Psalms are Tephillot [meaning "prayers"]. In fact, one of the first collections included in the book was titled "The Prayers of David, Son of Jesse" (Ps. 72:70) (NIV Study Bible, p. 781).
Take a moment and glance at some of the Psalms. Can you see the difference between a prayer and a praise? Psalm 9 begins with these words: "I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart . . ." Psalm 11 begins, "In the Lord I put my trust . . ." Psalm 12 begins with the plea, "Help, Lord . . ." Psalm 14 teaches that
"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God." The distinguishing characteristic is this one: are the verses to God, or about God.
The identification of the Psalms as prayers and praises is an interesting parallel to our own hymnal. Pick up a hymn book and look at almost any hymn. Is it a prayer (sung to the Father and/or the Son) or is it a praise (sung about the Father and/or the Son and their work)? Which of the following are prayers? Which are praises?
"The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning" (#2)
"We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet" (#19)
"God of Power, God of Right" (#20)
"Joseph Smith's First Prayer" (#26)
"Come, All Ye Saints of Zion" (#38)
"Come, O Thou King of Kings" (#59)
The Gospel Doctrine lesson manual provides a useful doctrinal approach to the Psalms. When I teach Psalms, I spend time teaching some of the doctrinal insights, and I also spend time teaching the importance and purposes of music. But in seminary and institute classes I have more time to teach the book of Psalms than you will have in Sunday School. Since the Sunday School manual gives an excellent doctrinal overview, I have chosen in this cyberspace Sunday School to offer some thoughts and insights about music and the book of Psalms.
I. THE SONG OF THE HEART.
The singing of our sacred hymns, written by the servants of God, has a powerful effect in converting people to the principles of the Gospel, and in promoting peace and spiritual growth. Singing is a prayer to the Lord, as He has said: "For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads" (Doctrine and Covenants 25:12) (President Heber J. Grant: Improvement Era, September 1940).
Every word Pres. Grant spoke of our hymns is also true of the Psalms. Their language and doctrine and lyrical qualities (even without the music) can have "a powerful effect in converting people to the principles of the Gospel, and in promoting peace and spiritual growth."
David spoke of this power when he wrote "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times" (Psalms 12:6).
The hymns, like the Psalms, have power to touch us and teach us.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland told of an inactive man who was reclaimed by an experience in the shed behind his house. In terror he had fled there, although he did not know the source of his fear. For the first time in half a century, he fell to his knees and prayed: "O Lord, save me from whatever it is that terrifies me so."
Quaking, trembling, perspiring on his knees in this shed out behind his home, he continued his prayer. He said, "I was lisping like a child the only prayers I knew, when there came into my heart the words of a song that I had not heard nor sung for that half century. I think I did not ever know the words, and I surely do not know them now. But I heard them with symphonic accompaniment and angelic choirs. I heard them, music and word, in that shed behind my home in the middle of that night."
The hymn was "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet."
The man said, "I heard the angels sing. I've never missed a church meeting since that day. I've never smoked a cigarette, and I've tried to do everything I should have done for all those years. But I want you to know that I did not then, and probably do not now know, the words to the hymn that I heard sung that night in a shed behind my home with celestial symphony and an angelic choir." (From a speech by Jeffrey Holland, "Remembered and Nourished by the Good Word of God," given at the Marriott Center, BYU, Sept. 26, 1976.)
President Grant remembered this story:
I recall one incident showing how song has the power to soothe irritated feelings and bring harmony to the hearts of men who are filled with a contentious spirit. It occurred many years ago, and involved a quarrel between two old and faithful brethren whose membership dated back to the days of Nauvoo. These men had been full in integrity and devotion to the work of the Lord. They had been through many of the hardships of Nauvoo, and had suffered the drivings and persecutions of the Saints, as well as the hardships of pioneering incident to the early settlement of the West. These men had quarreled over some business affairs and finally concluded that they would try to get President John Taylor to help them adjust their difficulties.
John Taylor was then the president of the Council of the Twelve Apostles. These brethren pledged their word of honor that they would faithfully abide by whatever decision Brother Taylor might render. Like many others, even in these days, they were not willing to accept the conclusions and counsels of their teachers, or bishops, or presidents of stakes, who would have been the authorized persons, in their order, to consult, and which would have been the proper course to pursue, but they must have some higher authority. Having been personally acquainted with President Brigham Young, in the days of Nauvoo, and feeling their importance in their own devotion to the work of the Lord, nothing short of an Apostle's advice would seem to satisfy them.
Accordingly they called on President Taylor, but did not immediately tell him what their trouble was, but explained that they had seriously quarreled and asked him if he would listen to their story and render his decision. President Taylor willingly consented. But he said: "Brethren, before I hear your case, I would like very much to sing one of the songs of Zion for you."
Now President Taylor was a very capable singer, and interpreted sweetly and with spirit, our sacred hymns. He sang one of our hymns to the two brethren. Seeing its effect, he remarked that he never heard one of the songs of Zion but that he wanted to listen to one more, and so asked them to listen while he sang another. Of course, they consented. They both seemed to enjoy it; and, having sung the second song, he remarked that he had heard there is luck in odd numbers and so with their consent he would sing still another, which he did. Then, in his jocular way, he remarked: "Now brethren, I do not want to wear you out, but if you will forgive me, and listen to one more hymn, I promise to stop singing, and will hear your case."
The story goes that when President Taylor had finished the fourth song, the brethren were melted to tears, got up, shook hands, and asked President Taylor to excuse them for having called upon him, and for taking up his time. They then departed without his even knowing what their difficulties were.
President Taylor's singing had reconciled their feelings toward each other. The Spirit of the Lord had entered their hearts, and the hills of difference that rose between them had been leveled and become as nothing. Love and brotherhood had developed in their souls, and the trifles over which they had quarreled, had become to no consequence in their sight. The songs of the heart had filled them with the spirit of reconciliation.
Let us not forget our hymns when we go to the house of worship. Let the congregation sing; and by all means let the choir members become familiar with the beautiful sentiments that are contained in our hymns, and so shall our Father in heaven delight in the songs of our hearts, which shall become prayers unto Him, and which He will graciously answer with blessings upon our heads. (President Heber J. Grant: Improvement Era, September 1940)
The significance and power of music are a matter for some reflection. For the truth, as expressed in D&C 25:12, is that when we sing sacred hymns from our heart, we pray. Please note that the revelation makes no mention of musical talent or of the song of the vocal cords. Any sacred thoughts that come from our hearts accompanied by worthy music ascend to heaven as prayers.
II. SING REDEEMING LOVE.
Alma referred to this kind of music in his sermon to the people of Zarahemla. He encouraged them to remember those who were in captivity in the Land of Nephi and who were rescued from sin and bondage by the goodness of God. "They were loosed, and their souls did expand, and they did sing redeeming love. And I say unto you that they are saved" (Alma 5:9, emphasis added). The Anti-Nephi Lehies were also "brought to sing redeeming love" (Alma 26:13).
It must be this longing to "sing redeeming love" that turns a song into a prayer. The scriptures are filled with examples. When Christ came among "an innumerable company of the spirits of the just" in the Spirit World to deliver them from the bands of death (D&C 138:12), "they sang praises to his holy name." (D&C 138:24.) When Christ was about to depart from the room of the Last Supper to go the Garden of Gethsemane, he and his disciples sang a hymn (see Matthew 26:30). Isaiah instructed us to sing when we are resurrected. "Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust . . . the earth shall cast out the dead" (Isaiah 26:19).
And the graves of the saints shall be opened; and they shall come forth and stand on the right hand of the Lamb, when he shall stand upon Mount Zion, and upon the holy city, the New Jerusalem; and they shall sing the song of the Lamb, day and night forever and ever. (D&C 133:56).
Israel sang after they had crossed the Red Sea. "I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously . . ." (Exodus 15:1). The Doctrine and Covenants gives the words of a song to be sung, a new song, when the time comes that "all shall know me, who remain, even from the least unto the greatest . . ." (D&C 84:98; the words of the song are in verses 99-102).
I think we must read the Psalms with this sense of music. Most of them are written as prayers, and probably all of them were written to be sung. When we sing words and sentiments like these, what happens is as real as what happens when we are on our knees, praying.
III. MAKING SOUNDS; MAKING MUSIC.
The Psalms direct us to "praise the Lord" over one hundred and fifty times. This is the most often repeated admonition in the book. Look at the words of Psalm 150, the final Psalm:
PRAISE ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD (Ps. 150:1-6)
In addition, at least forty-six times the scriptures speak of singing those praises to the Savior and other members of the Godhead. For example:
And he hath brought to pass the redemption of the world, whereby he that is found guiltless before him at the judgment day hath it given unto him to dwell in the presence of God in his kingdom, to sing ceaseless praises with the choirs above, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which are one God, in a state of happiness which hath no end (Mormon 7:7).
We must not miss opportunities to sing redeeming love—to sing praises—because of how we sing. The quality that matters in music is why we sing.
I sang with the Utah State University Institute Choir at a session of General Conference many years ago. I had what I thought was the misfortune to be seated next to a young man who sang every note off-key and every note as loud as he could! I am sorry to confess that I was offended. With my limited musical ability I could easily recognize that I was making a much more useful contribution to the spirit of our music than he was. I have since learned that I had the matter exactly backwards.
Alexander Schreiner, one of the great Tabernacle organists, recalled a story about someone who asked a music director how he could stand to hear Brother Stanton bellow off-key at Church gatherings. "The wise old leader replied: Brother Stanton is one of our most devout worshippers, and when he bellows he is a supreme musician . . . . Don't pay too much attention to the sounds he makes. If you do, you may miss the music." (Music and the Gospel, p. 16; cited in the Ensign, March 2000, p. 19.)
I was so worried about the sounds I was hearing that I missed the music I was hearing. I am certain that our Father never pays too much attention to the sounds we make. If we are devout in our worship, God does not hear the missed notes or care about the dissonance. He hears the prayers.
When we listen to this choir . . . we listen to music, and music is truth. Good music is gracious praise of God. It is delightsome to the ear, and it is one of our most acceptable methods of worshipping God. And those who sing . . . should sing with the spirit and with the understanding. They should not sing merely because it is a profession, or because they have a good voice; but they should sing also because they have the spirit of it and can enter into the spirit of prayer and praise to God who gave them their sweet voices. (Joseph F. Smith, Conference Report, Oct. 1899, p. 69.)
President Grant had some challenges with singing. On one occasion he spoke of the difficulty he experienced in singing well.
I remarked some four months ago to Brother Horace S. Ensign that I would be willing to spend four or five months of my spare time if I could only learn to sing . . . one hymn. He told me that any one could learn to sing that had perseverance. I said to him if there was anything that I had it was perseverance. So I suggested that we sit down and I would take my first lesson of two hours on [the Doxology]. I have been continuing the lessons on it ever since. I have sung it as high as 115 times in one day. I have practiced on the "Doxology" between three and four hundred times, and there are only four lines, and I cannot sing it yet. I traveled from Holbrook, Arizona, to St. Johns, with Brothers Clawson and Kimball, some months ago, and I sang one hundred times that day and gave them nervous prostration. Now I tried to sing "O My Father" at Snowflake, Arizona, and I only got as far as the "O," and I did not get that right (Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1900, p.61).
But on another occasion, in a more serious moment, he taught this lesson about singing:
I have no ambition to become a singer. But I do feel that there is a great deal lost in the homes of the people by not having the songs of Zion sung therein. Many a missionary robs himself of strength and power and ability to accomplish good, and to make friends, by not knowing how to sing. . . . It is not the eloquence that you possess which will carry conviction to the hearts of the people, but it is the Spirit of Almighty God that is burning in your hearts, and your desire for the salvation of souls. Brigham Young said that the Spirit of the Lord would do more to convert people than the eloquence of men. And I say that the singing of the songs of Zion , though imperfectly, with the inspiration of God, will touch the hearts of the honest more effectively than if sung well without the Spirit of God. Sing with the Spirit of God. Love the words that you sing. I love the songs of Zion (Heber J. Grant, Gospel Standards, p.170).
IV. DOCTRINAL DIMENSIONS. The Old Testament is probably the least-read book of scripture, and the book of Psalms is among the least read books of the Old Testament. To the casual reader the book may seem repetitive, even boring. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Psalms are alive with the power of the word. Doctrinal declarations flow continuously from its pages in powerful, refreshing waves. Testimony and love fill its pages from beginning to end.
Set a goal to read the Psalms this year. You might not want to read them straight through. Like the hymns we sing in our meetings, they are scriptural and spiritual garnish. Read one or two of the psalms each day and in 2-3 months you will have read (and loved) them all. You might find yourself inclined, as I have been, to write a psalm or two of your own.
Conclusion
As you read and ponder, you will be taught about the mortal ministry and mission of the Messiah, about the blessings reserved for the righteous, about the judgements that await the wicked, about the establishment and beauty of Zion, about the sweetness to be found in the temple, about the joy of salvation and of seeing the Lord's face. You will read and feel the continuous testimony of God's goodness and greatness, the persistent testimony of the creation and the Creator; you will encounter the wonder and power and voice of God. You will receive instruction about the restoration, work for the dead, the power of the scriptures, and the everlasting mercy of the Son.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
"Create In Me a Clean Heart"
Create In Me a Clean Heart
Old Testament: Lesson 24
by Ted L. Gibbons
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Introduction
William Shakespeare wrote:
What win I if I gain the thing I seek?
A dream, a breath, a froth of fleeting joy?
Who buys a minute's myrth to wail a week
Or sells eternity to get a toy?
For one sweet grape, who would the vine destroy?
Or what fond beggar but to touch the crown,
Would with the scepter straight be stricken down?
The willingness of some people to place the things of eternity—the things of true joy—on the altar of their desire for immediate pleasure and the gratification of appetites, passions, and desires, is terrifying. This poem could have been written as an additional psalm, not a psalm by David, but a psalm for him.
The poem and the events of 2 Samuel 11-13 remind me of this statement attributed to Stirling W. Sill: "Be careful what you want, because you'll probably get it." [I do not have a source for this quote. If any of you do, please let me know at tedgibbons@yahoo.com.
I. DAVID COMMITS ADULTERY WITH BATHSHEBA AND ARRANGES THE DEATH OF URIAH, BATHSHEBA'S HUSBAND.
Samuel described David as "a man after [God's] own heart" (1 Sam 13:14). And he was. For so many years he was. His devotion and discipline are a standard for faithful disciples. His life was a pattern of piety and purity until that evening on his roof when he looked into his neighbor's yard . . .
The story of the decline of David is a warning for all of us. The tragic ending of this story may obscure another message here. David could have fixed this problem so many times before Uriah died and he lost his exaltation. Let us review the scriptures and analyze the areas where David could have done things differently and changed the history of his family and his nation.
And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem (2 Sam. 11:1).
I remember hearing President Packer say "it is a good feeling to know you are where the Lord want's you to be." David wasn't. I wonder how many times he regretted his decision to tarry at Jerusalem. Both power and safety come from being where we are supposed to be.
And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house . . . (2 Sam. 11:1)
Many mid-eastern homes had flat roofs and external staircases. In the heat of a late afternoon and early evening, a walk on the roof would give a chance for cool breezes and reflection. While he was walking he glanced over at his neighbor's house "and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself . . ." (2 Sam. 11:2)
This may be perfectly innocent. There is no inclination that David is looking for anything like this. He is just looking around, and sees something unexpected. There is a golden opportunity here for David to avoid the problems that are coming. All David has to do is take himself and his mind somewhere else. Well, I guess I'll go read the book of Genesis, or I'll to visit my son Amnon and see how he is doing. Or, I'll write a message to Joab and see how the war is going . . . David did none of these things. Instead, he continued to look, at least long enough to see that "the woman was very beautiful to look upon" (1 Sam 11:2).
I believe that this is the commencement of the problems. When I was dating the wonderful woman who is now my wife, I took her to a few movies. One of them was called Bonnie and Clyde. We had been in the theater for about the first 10 minutes when something was presented that was unacceptable to my future bride. I no longer remember what it was, but I remember what happened. Lydia stood up and said, "I'm leaving; are you coming?" and started for the door. She did not wait to see what I would do. She left, with me scurrying in her wake assuring her that I was about to leave also. A few weeks later we went to Grand Prix, and had a similar experience. I learned some important lessons about my wife. She has "zero tolerance." No movie, no TV show, no piece of literature gets a second chance. As Hugh B. Brown said, "Personally, I shall rebel if anyone tries to hold my head over a manhole into a sewer . . ." ("Purity is Power," BYU, Sept. 30, 1962). Lydia will not remain over the sewer to see if the smell improves. But David did. He watched long enough to see how attractive she was, and to become interested.
What counsel would you give David at this point. Take a cold shower! Play Racquetball! Go look at some family photographs! It would have been so easy, even at this point, to solve the problem. And it was a problem. David had some images in his mind that he ought to have evicted. A certain level of repentance is appropriate here. But David does something else:
And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? (2 Sam. 11:3)
I hope you who are reading this recognize that I am embellishing shamelessly. The only things we know for sure about this story are those we read in 2 Samuel 11. But if I offer a few conjectures, remember they are only that, and only intended to help us understand the story and the lessons.
I do not think David left the roof wondering how he could get his neighbors wife to commit an awful, immoral act with him. I know there are men who do this kind of thing. But not David. His problem was that he allowed those powerful, unexpected images to take up space and time in his mind. Finally, perhaps having convinced himself that his only motivation was neighborly interest, he make inquiries about her. He learned her name and that her husband was away serving the king and the kingdom. Time must have passed here. Elder Packer said,
People don't get in serious trouble in one step. I don't think anyone steps off a precipice into the depths of immorality and apostasy. They slide down the slippery sides of the chasm . . . (Improvement Era, May 1970, p. 7)
And now?
David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him . . . (2 Sam. 11:4).
What was he thinking? What was his intent here? In the compressed language of the scriptures, his sending for her and his adultery with her come in the same verse, but I have difficulty believing that he sent for her with that intent. He probably found a way to rationalize the invitation. He may have wanted a closer look at the woman he saw from his roof. But I doubt he sent for her so filled with lust that he had abandoned all concern for his own worthiness and eternal blessings.
She came. The king had sent for her. She had to come. And then, on that night or a later night, it happened. "[S]he came in unto him, and he lay with her . . . and she returned unto her house" (2 Sam. 11:4).
Even now this problem can be fixed. David and Bathsheba had committed a huge sin, but it was not larger than the atonement. I do not know what it might have cost David to confess and repent, but it would not have exacted the payment finally required of him. His intent to protect his name and his image—to cover his sins—in the end cost him almost everything, including Bathsheba.
When Bathsheba sent word that she was pregnant, David acted at once.
And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David. And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered. And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king (2 Sam 11:6-8).
David's intent is transparent. If Uriah spends the night at home, he will think the child to be born is his child. But Uriah did not go home. He slept on the King's porch. There is a hero in 2 Samuel 11, but it is not David. It is Uriah. Uriah is a faithful, disciplined, trusting servant. He stands in glaring contrast to the king himself, who is unfaithful and undisciplined and certainly not trustworthy. David tried a second time.
And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house? And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing. And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow. And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house (2 Sam. 11:10-13).
I hate to keep playing the same song on my harp. But I will. David can still repent. Anyone could, even this far into the minefield, he could find his way to safety without a cataclysmic explosion. But he would not.
And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die (2 Sam. 11:14,15).
David has, by this command to Joab, come a great distance from the inadvertent glimpse of a woman washing in a neighbor's back yard. David is on the verge of an unforgivable sin (D&C 42:18).
And when word came that Uriah was dead, David placed a final stone on the mountain of his hypocrisy when he declared to the messenger
Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him (2 Sam 11: 25).
The text of the announcement of Uriah's death implies that other mighty men were killed with Uriah that might have been safe were it not for the king's command (1 Sam. 11:16,23,24). The Lord imposed the punishment required by divine law.
David's wives and concubines were given unto him of me, by the hand of Nathan, my servant, and others of the prophets who had the keys of this power; and in none of these things did he sin against me save in the case of Uriah and his wife; and, therefore he hath fallen from his exaltation, and received his portion; and he shall not inherit them out of the world, for I gave them unto another, saith the Lord (D&C 132:39, emphasis added).
II. DAVID IS TOLD THAT HE WILL BE PUNISHED BECAUSE OF HIS SINS.
When all is said and done, there is nothing gained from pre-marital adventure except immediate pleasure, and that at tremendous risk and exorbitant cost. No really intelligent person will burn a cathedral to fry and egg, even to satisfy a ravenous appetite (Henry A. Bowman, cited by Hugh B. Brown in "Purity is Power," BYU, Sept. 30, 1962, pp. 10,11).
David's adventure was not pre-marital, but the risk and the cost were the same: tremendous and exorbitant! The cathedral of David's hopes and eternal aspirations was a raging inferno now.
Nathan the prophet came to see David and warn him of the Lord's judgements upon him. The text of 2 Sam. 12 implies that many knew what had happened. ". . . by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme . . ." (2 Sam. 12:14).
Among the most chilling of all the statements in the scriptures is the one in 2 Sam. 12:7: "Thou art the man." Nathan then proceeded to prophesy of the exorbitant cost of David's transgressions.
"the sword shall never depart from thine house . . ." (2 Sam. 12:10)
"I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house . . ." (2 Sam. 12:11)
"I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbor . . ." (2 Sam. 12:11)
"the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die." (2 Sam. 12:14)
David acknowledged his sin, but that did not change the nature of the sin nor the Lord's judgement.
And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath not put away thy sin that thou shalt not die (2 Sam. 12:13, JST).
We live in a world where immoral images can be seen from almost every rooftop. Proverbs 7, in an allusion to the temptation to immorality tells us
Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner (Prov. 7:12).
President Benson, speaking 42 years ago warned us that
No sin is causing the loss of the Spirit of the Lord among our people more today than sexual promiscuity. It is causing our people to stumble, damning their growth, darkening their spiritual powers and making them subject to other sins.
Recently, a young man commented that if he quit reading books, watching TV, seeing movies, reading newspapers and magazines, and going to school, there was a chance he might live a clean life. And this explains, in large part, the extent to which this insidious evil has spread . . . (C.R., October 1964).
The message of the story of David and Bathsheba is repeated 2 chapters later in 2 Samuel 13. The participants are different, but the lessons have a familiar sound to them. And in the telling of this version, we find David's two oldest sons guilty of the same crimes committed by David: immorality and murder.
Amnon was in love (love is the word used in the scriptures. It is not my word) with his half-sister Tamar. He found a way to get her in his bedroom, ignored her pleas, and raped her.
Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone (2 Sam. 13:15).
He then had her thrown out of his house. How could hatred come so quickly?
I heard Elder John A. Widtsoe, who at one time presided over the University of Utah, say, "It is my observation that a young man and a young woman who violate the principles of morality soon end up hating one another." I have observed the same thing. There may be words of love to begin with, but there will be words of anger and bitterness later (Gordon B. Hinckley, "True to the Faith," Ensign, June 1996, p. 5).
David knew what had happened. "But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth" (2 Sam. 13:21). Wroth, yes, but also paralyzed. David did nothing about this terrible act of the crown prince. Why do you think David would not, or could not, act?
After two full years (13:23), Absalom, a full brother to Tamar and half-brother to Amnon, had Amnon murdered in retaliation for what he had done (2 Sam. 13:28,29).
III. A REPENTANT DAVID SEEKS FORGIVENESS.
The heading of Psalm 51 indicates that David's plea for forgiveness is in the matter of Bathsheba. When David composed this I do not know, but certainly he knew that there was no forgiveness in the matter of Uriah. Read this Psalm as a recipe for forgiveness. Wonderful doctrine can be found here. Note (mark?) the things David asks the Lord to do for him:
"Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness" (Ps. 51:1).
"Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin" (Ps. 51:2).
"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow" (Ps. 51:7).
"Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice" (Ps. 51:8).
"Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities" (Ps. 51:9).
"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" (Ps. 51:10).
"Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me" (Ps. 51:11).
"Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit" (Ps. 51:12).
All of us have sought forgiveness. David's words are a powerful description of what the Lord and the Atonement can do for the repentant. But in addition, David promises to do some things to show the reality of his repentance.
"Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee" (Ps. 51:13).
"my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness" (Ps. 51:14).
"my mouth shall shew forth thy praise" (Ps. 51:15).
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise" (Ps. 51:17).
A willingness to teach and to testify, to praise and to be humble, are evidences of true repentance. David has taught us great lessons here. Similar feelings appear in Psalm 38. You might want to read and mark that passage as well.
Conclusion
The Bible gives powerful warnings about the dangers of immorality. Let us conclude with a couple of passages and comments from Proverbs. Understanding these passages will be easier if you will think of the feminine pronouns as references not to gender but to immorality, and references to the male pronouns as allusions to anyone tempted by immorality. The first passage comes from Proverbs 7.
21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
Verse 26 is thought-provoking. Certainly David is one of those "strong men" who "has been slain by her." The second passage is from Proverbs 9. Apply the same rules to the pronouns here.
14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 To call passengers who go right on their ways:
16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
Old Testament: Lesson 24
by Ted L. Gibbons
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Introduction
William Shakespeare wrote:
What win I if I gain the thing I seek?
A dream, a breath, a froth of fleeting joy?
Who buys a minute's myrth to wail a week
Or sells eternity to get a toy?
For one sweet grape, who would the vine destroy?
Or what fond beggar but to touch the crown,
Would with the scepter straight be stricken down?
The willingness of some people to place the things of eternity—the things of true joy—on the altar of their desire for immediate pleasure and the gratification of appetites, passions, and desires, is terrifying. This poem could have been written as an additional psalm, not a psalm by David, but a psalm for him.
The poem and the events of 2 Samuel 11-13 remind me of this statement attributed to Stirling W. Sill: "Be careful what you want, because you'll probably get it." [I do not have a source for this quote. If any of you do, please let me know at tedgibbons@yahoo.com.
I. DAVID COMMITS ADULTERY WITH BATHSHEBA AND ARRANGES THE DEATH OF URIAH, BATHSHEBA'S HUSBAND.
Samuel described David as "a man after [God's] own heart" (1 Sam 13:14). And he was. For so many years he was. His devotion and discipline are a standard for faithful disciples. His life was a pattern of piety and purity until that evening on his roof when he looked into his neighbor's yard . . .
The story of the decline of David is a warning for all of us. The tragic ending of this story may obscure another message here. David could have fixed this problem so many times before Uriah died and he lost his exaltation. Let us review the scriptures and analyze the areas where David could have done things differently and changed the history of his family and his nation.
And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem (2 Sam. 11:1).
I remember hearing President Packer say "it is a good feeling to know you are where the Lord want's you to be." David wasn't. I wonder how many times he regretted his decision to tarry at Jerusalem. Both power and safety come from being where we are supposed to be.
And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house . . . (2 Sam. 11:1)
Many mid-eastern homes had flat roofs and external staircases. In the heat of a late afternoon and early evening, a walk on the roof would give a chance for cool breezes and reflection. While he was walking he glanced over at his neighbor's house "and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself . . ." (2 Sam. 11:2)
This may be perfectly innocent. There is no inclination that David is looking for anything like this. He is just looking around, and sees something unexpected. There is a golden opportunity here for David to avoid the problems that are coming. All David has to do is take himself and his mind somewhere else. Well, I guess I'll go read the book of Genesis, or I'll to visit my son Amnon and see how he is doing. Or, I'll write a message to Joab and see how the war is going . . . David did none of these things. Instead, he continued to look, at least long enough to see that "the woman was very beautiful to look upon" (1 Sam 11:2).
I believe that this is the commencement of the problems. When I was dating the wonderful woman who is now my wife, I took her to a few movies. One of them was called Bonnie and Clyde. We had been in the theater for about the first 10 minutes when something was presented that was unacceptable to my future bride. I no longer remember what it was, but I remember what happened. Lydia stood up and said, "I'm leaving; are you coming?" and started for the door. She did not wait to see what I would do. She left, with me scurrying in her wake assuring her that I was about to leave also. A few weeks later we went to Grand Prix, and had a similar experience. I learned some important lessons about my wife. She has "zero tolerance." No movie, no TV show, no piece of literature gets a second chance. As Hugh B. Brown said, "Personally, I shall rebel if anyone tries to hold my head over a manhole into a sewer . . ." ("Purity is Power," BYU, Sept. 30, 1962). Lydia will not remain over the sewer to see if the smell improves. But David did. He watched long enough to see how attractive she was, and to become interested.
What counsel would you give David at this point. Take a cold shower! Play Racquetball! Go look at some family photographs! It would have been so easy, even at this point, to solve the problem. And it was a problem. David had some images in his mind that he ought to have evicted. A certain level of repentance is appropriate here. But David does something else:
And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? (2 Sam. 11:3)
I hope you who are reading this recognize that I am embellishing shamelessly. The only things we know for sure about this story are those we read in 2 Samuel 11. But if I offer a few conjectures, remember they are only that, and only intended to help us understand the story and the lessons.
I do not think David left the roof wondering how he could get his neighbors wife to commit an awful, immoral act with him. I know there are men who do this kind of thing. But not David. His problem was that he allowed those powerful, unexpected images to take up space and time in his mind. Finally, perhaps having convinced himself that his only motivation was neighborly interest, he make inquiries about her. He learned her name and that her husband was away serving the king and the kingdom. Time must have passed here. Elder Packer said,
People don't get in serious trouble in one step. I don't think anyone steps off a precipice into the depths of immorality and apostasy. They slide down the slippery sides of the chasm . . . (Improvement Era, May 1970, p. 7)
And now?
David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him . . . (2 Sam. 11:4).
What was he thinking? What was his intent here? In the compressed language of the scriptures, his sending for her and his adultery with her come in the same verse, but I have difficulty believing that he sent for her with that intent. He probably found a way to rationalize the invitation. He may have wanted a closer look at the woman he saw from his roof. But I doubt he sent for her so filled with lust that he had abandoned all concern for his own worthiness and eternal blessings.
She came. The king had sent for her. She had to come. And then, on that night or a later night, it happened. "[S]he came in unto him, and he lay with her . . . and she returned unto her house" (2 Sam. 11:4).
Even now this problem can be fixed. David and Bathsheba had committed a huge sin, but it was not larger than the atonement. I do not know what it might have cost David to confess and repent, but it would not have exacted the payment finally required of him. His intent to protect his name and his image—to cover his sins—in the end cost him almost everything, including Bathsheba.
When Bathsheba sent word that she was pregnant, David acted at once.
And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David. And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered. And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king (2 Sam 11:6-8).
David's intent is transparent. If Uriah spends the night at home, he will think the child to be born is his child. But Uriah did not go home. He slept on the King's porch. There is a hero in 2 Samuel 11, but it is not David. It is Uriah. Uriah is a faithful, disciplined, trusting servant. He stands in glaring contrast to the king himself, who is unfaithful and undisciplined and certainly not trustworthy. David tried a second time.
And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house? And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing. And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow. And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house (2 Sam. 11:10-13).
I hate to keep playing the same song on my harp. But I will. David can still repent. Anyone could, even this far into the minefield, he could find his way to safety without a cataclysmic explosion. But he would not.
And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die (2 Sam. 11:14,15).
David has, by this command to Joab, come a great distance from the inadvertent glimpse of a woman washing in a neighbor's back yard. David is on the verge of an unforgivable sin (D&C 42:18).
And when word came that Uriah was dead, David placed a final stone on the mountain of his hypocrisy when he declared to the messenger
Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him (2 Sam 11: 25).
The text of the announcement of Uriah's death implies that other mighty men were killed with Uriah that might have been safe were it not for the king's command (1 Sam. 11:16,23,24). The Lord imposed the punishment required by divine law.
David's wives and concubines were given unto him of me, by the hand of Nathan, my servant, and others of the prophets who had the keys of this power; and in none of these things did he sin against me save in the case of Uriah and his wife; and, therefore he hath fallen from his exaltation, and received his portion; and he shall not inherit them out of the world, for I gave them unto another, saith the Lord (D&C 132:39, emphasis added).
II. DAVID IS TOLD THAT HE WILL BE PUNISHED BECAUSE OF HIS SINS.
When all is said and done, there is nothing gained from pre-marital adventure except immediate pleasure, and that at tremendous risk and exorbitant cost. No really intelligent person will burn a cathedral to fry and egg, even to satisfy a ravenous appetite (Henry A. Bowman, cited by Hugh B. Brown in "Purity is Power," BYU, Sept. 30, 1962, pp. 10,11).
David's adventure was not pre-marital, but the risk and the cost were the same: tremendous and exorbitant! The cathedral of David's hopes and eternal aspirations was a raging inferno now.
Nathan the prophet came to see David and warn him of the Lord's judgements upon him. The text of 2 Sam. 12 implies that many knew what had happened. ". . . by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme . . ." (2 Sam. 12:14).
Among the most chilling of all the statements in the scriptures is the one in 2 Sam. 12:7: "Thou art the man." Nathan then proceeded to prophesy of the exorbitant cost of David's transgressions.
"the sword shall never depart from thine house . . ." (2 Sam. 12:10)
"I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house . . ." (2 Sam. 12:11)
"I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbor . . ." (2 Sam. 12:11)
"the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die." (2 Sam. 12:14)
David acknowledged his sin, but that did not change the nature of the sin nor the Lord's judgement.
And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath not put away thy sin that thou shalt not die (2 Sam. 12:13, JST).
We live in a world where immoral images can be seen from almost every rooftop. Proverbs 7, in an allusion to the temptation to immorality tells us
Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner (Prov. 7:12).
President Benson, speaking 42 years ago warned us that
No sin is causing the loss of the Spirit of the Lord among our people more today than sexual promiscuity. It is causing our people to stumble, damning their growth, darkening their spiritual powers and making them subject to other sins.
Recently, a young man commented that if he quit reading books, watching TV, seeing movies, reading newspapers and magazines, and going to school, there was a chance he might live a clean life. And this explains, in large part, the extent to which this insidious evil has spread . . . (C.R., October 1964).
The message of the story of David and Bathsheba is repeated 2 chapters later in 2 Samuel 13. The participants are different, but the lessons have a familiar sound to them. And in the telling of this version, we find David's two oldest sons guilty of the same crimes committed by David: immorality and murder.
Amnon was in love (love is the word used in the scriptures. It is not my word) with his half-sister Tamar. He found a way to get her in his bedroom, ignored her pleas, and raped her.
Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone (2 Sam. 13:15).
He then had her thrown out of his house. How could hatred come so quickly?
I heard Elder John A. Widtsoe, who at one time presided over the University of Utah, say, "It is my observation that a young man and a young woman who violate the principles of morality soon end up hating one another." I have observed the same thing. There may be words of love to begin with, but there will be words of anger and bitterness later (Gordon B. Hinckley, "True to the Faith," Ensign, June 1996, p. 5).
David knew what had happened. "But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth" (2 Sam. 13:21). Wroth, yes, but also paralyzed. David did nothing about this terrible act of the crown prince. Why do you think David would not, or could not, act?
After two full years (13:23), Absalom, a full brother to Tamar and half-brother to Amnon, had Amnon murdered in retaliation for what he had done (2 Sam. 13:28,29).
III. A REPENTANT DAVID SEEKS FORGIVENESS.
The heading of Psalm 51 indicates that David's plea for forgiveness is in the matter of Bathsheba. When David composed this I do not know, but certainly he knew that there was no forgiveness in the matter of Uriah. Read this Psalm as a recipe for forgiveness. Wonderful doctrine can be found here. Note (mark?) the things David asks the Lord to do for him:
"Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness" (Ps. 51:1).
"Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin" (Ps. 51:2).
"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow" (Ps. 51:7).
"Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice" (Ps. 51:8).
"Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities" (Ps. 51:9).
"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" (Ps. 51:10).
"Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me" (Ps. 51:11).
"Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit" (Ps. 51:12).
All of us have sought forgiveness. David's words are a powerful description of what the Lord and the Atonement can do for the repentant. But in addition, David promises to do some things to show the reality of his repentance.
"Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee" (Ps. 51:13).
"my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness" (Ps. 51:14).
"my mouth shall shew forth thy praise" (Ps. 51:15).
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise" (Ps. 51:17).
A willingness to teach and to testify, to praise and to be humble, are evidences of true repentance. David has taught us great lessons here. Similar feelings appear in Psalm 38. You might want to read and mark that passage as well.
Conclusion
The Bible gives powerful warnings about the dangers of immorality. Let us conclude with a couple of passages and comments from Proverbs. Understanding these passages will be easier if you will think of the feminine pronouns as references not to gender but to immorality, and references to the male pronouns as allusions to anyone tempted by immorality. The first passage comes from Proverbs 7.
21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
Verse 26 is thought-provoking. Certainly David is one of those "strong men" who "has been slain by her." The second passage is from Proverbs 9. Apply the same rules to the pronouns here.
14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 To call passengers who go right on their ways:
16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
"The Lord Be Between Me and Thee For"
The Lord Be Between Me and Thee Forever
Old Testament: Lesson 23
by Ted L. Gibbons
Introduction
Zoram, we are told, was a "true friend" to Nephi (see 2 Nephi 1:30), as was Amulek to Alma. Hyrum was a true friend and brother to Joseph. Likewise, the friendship of David and Jonathan has become a standard. Rarely have two individuals been as devoted to one another as these two.
As we study what they did for each other, we can learn principles that will assist us as we evaluate our own friendships and the influences they have on us.
We need to measure very carefully who our true friends are. The measure of a true friend is one who will not have us choose between his way and the Lord's way. A true friend makes it easier for us to live the commandments of the Lord. A true friend will not let us do anything we want. True friends will correct us when we do something wrong and bring us back on the straight and narrow path that leads to exaltation.
Every one of us needs to know when to walk or run away from those who would call themselves friends but in reality are not. Joseph of old recognized the evil in Potiphar's wife and ran from it (see Gen. 39:7—12). We too must recognize evil and shun it. If we allow machoism to overtake our personal lives and influence choices and decisions we make, we can severely limit our progression in this life and in the eternities (Robert D. Hales, "Return with Honor," Ensign, June 1999, 12).
There are those kinds of friends from whom we we should run. Judah's friend Hirah, the Abdullamite, was willing to pay Judah's debt to a harlot (Genesis 38:20). Jonadab, the friend of Amnon, counseled Amnon on how to put himself in a position to take advantage of his half-sister, Tamar (see 2 Sam. 13). Job's three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, came to comfort Job in his misery, and then added to his misery by telling him he was suffering because he was so wicked.
I. JONATHAN AND DAVID MAKE A COVENANT OF FRIENDSHIP. SAUL BECOMES JEALOUS OF DAVID AND TRIES TO KILL HIM.
And it came to pass. . . . that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul . . . Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul (1 Sam 18:1,3)
The fact that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David just after the defeat of Goliath is interesting. Jonathan and his armourbearer, with only a few weapons and their faith in God, had attacked and routed the Philistine garrison (see 1 Sam. 14 and Old Testament lesson 22 from last week). David, armed with a staff and a sling, had gone against the Philistine champion, a man from whom the other Israelites had all fled. It is not hard to imagine that common faith and courage drawing these two young men together.
What does the final phrase of 1 Sam. 18:3 ("he loved him as his own soul") suggest about true friendship?
Jonathan was the crown prince of Israel. David and Samuel knew that Jonathan was not next in line for the throne, and it is likely that Jonathan knew it also.
And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle (1 Sam. 18:4).
Saul also was pleased with David. He took him into his own service after the death of Goliath "and would let him go no more home to his father's house" (1 Sam 18:2). David served Saul well.
And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants (1 Sam. 18:5).
But something caused Saul to turn against David.
And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick. And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? (1 Sam. 18:6-8).
What was the initial cause of Saul's anger at David? The final phrase of 18:8 suggests that perhaps at this time Saul had begun to suspect that the neighbor mentioned by Samuel in 1 Sam. 15:8—the neighbor who would take the throne from Saul—was none other than David.
Reading these passages reminded me of the talk given by Elder Holland in April Conference about the parable of the two sons.
The younger son has returned, a robe has been placed on his shoulders and a ring on his finger, when the older son comes on the scene. He has been dutifully, loyally working in the field, and now he is returning. The language of parallel journeys home, though from very different locations, is central to this story.
As he approaches the house, he hears the sounds of music and laughter.
"And he called one of the servants [note that he has servants] and asked what these things meant.
And [the servant] said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
And [the older brother] was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him."
You know the conversation they then had. Surely, for this father, the pain over a wayward child who had run from home and wallowed with swine is now compounded with the realization that this older, wiser brother, the younger boy's childhood hero as older brothers always are, is angry that his brother has come home.
No, I correct myself. This son is not so much angry that the other has come home as he is angry that his parents are so happy about it. (Ensign, May 2002, pp. 62,63).
Can you see Saul in these paragraphs? Saul is angry that his people are happy with David's success. How insidious a jealous heart can be!
Who is it that whispers so subtly in our ear that a gift given to another somehow diminishes the blessings we have received? Who makes us feel that if God is smiling on another, then He surely must somehow be frowning on us? You and I both know who does this—it is the father of all lies. It is Lucifer, our common enemy, whose cry down through the corridors of time is always and to everyone, "Give me thine honor."
It has been said that envy is the one sin to which no one readily confesses, but just how widespread that tendency can be is suggested in the old Danish proverb, "If envy were a fever, all the world would be ill" (Ensign, May 2002, p. 63).
There must be a warning here for all of us. We are required by our religion to rejoice in, rather than resent, the good fortune of others.
Saul will later have other excuses for his hatred of David, but for now it is enough for him that Davis is doing well and is loved. "And Saul eyed David from that day and forward" (1 Sam. 18:9).
David knew of this burgeoning animosity. Saul had tried to kill him.
And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand. And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice (1 Sam. 18:10,11).
How did he respond?
And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him. Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them (1 Sam. 18:14 -16; see also 18:5, 30).
Brigham Young said something about behaving ourselves wisely when others speak and think evil of us. He was giving instructions to departing missionaries in 1861. He said:
You will have all manner of evil spoken against you, and all I ask of you and all that God or angels will ask of you is that not one word spoken against you shall be true; and I want you for my sake and for your own sake and for the sake of Christ and the Kingdom of God to live so that the wicked shall have no cause to speak evil against you. (cited in Wilford Woodruff: History of His Life and Labors, pp. 412-413).
II. SAUL FAILS IN THREE MORE ATTEMPTS TO TAKE DAVID'S LIFE.
The account of David's marriage to Saul's daughter, and the events surrounding that marriage, sound very much like the plot of a poorly written soap-opera. What purpose did Saul have in offering his daughter to David? What was the underlying reason for the dowry he required of David? (see 1 Sam. 18:17,21,25)
When the Philistines failed to accomplish Saul's objective, his subtlety vanished. "And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David" (1 Sam. 19:1).
But Jonathan was a true friend to David and he knew what was right.
But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself: And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee. And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good: For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause? And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain. And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past (1 Sam. 19:2-7).
However, Saul's oath, sworn by the life of God, was soon forgotten.
And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him.
And the evil spirit which was not of the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand [I have copied this verse from the JST; note that the JST always indicates that this evil spirit was not from God. See 16:14,15,16,23; 18:10]
And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.
Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.
So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.
And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth.
And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.
And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.
And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster (1 Sam. 19:8-16).
Michal also turns out to have been a true friend to her husband, David.
III. DAVID AND JONATHAN RENEW THEIR COVENANT OF FRIENDSHIP, AND JONATHAN SAVES DAVID'S LIFE.
The foundation of the friendship of David and Jonathan is the Rock of Christ. Before this bulwark, all other considerations must defer. Thus Jonathan feels a greater responsibility to David than to his own father. The issue is not a generation gap. It is not a matter of filial rebellion against parental authority. It is not a matter of Jonathan's appreciation of David's personality more than that of his father. It is a matter of right and wrong.
Saul had planned to kill David at the three-day feast of the new moon. But David suspected perfidy and did not come. In his anger, Saul told Jonathan:
For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die (1 Sam. 20:31).
We were told in 1 Sam 16:14 that Saul lost the Spirit. Have you seen evidence enough of this to convince you? Samuel thought his life was threatened by Saul (see 1 Sam. 16:2); Saul tried repeatedly to kill David; and now . . .
And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done? And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David (1 Sam 20:32-33).
David fled from the household and presence of Saul for the final time. Future attempts to kill David would be made in locations of David's choosing.
IV. SAUL IS CONSUMED BY HATRED FOR DAVID. DAVID SPARES SAUL'S LIFE.
Saul's maniacal rage continued even with David gone from his presence. What happened to the priests of Nob who gave David assistance? (see 1 Sam. 22:18,19). What did Saul intend to do to the city of Keilah where David had found assistance? (see 1 Sam 23:10).
What would cause a man to be so destitute of basic values and Christian principles that he would destroy a city to kill a single man? But Saul, even though he was conducting a war against the Philistines, was consumed by a different passion. "And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand" (1 Samuel 23:14, emphasis added).
We are told that Satan had great hold on the hearts of the people of Ammonihah (see Alma 8:9). Can you see this same reality in the heart of Saul. Here is a man who has been willing to kill the Prophet, his own son, and the man anointed by the Lord to become king in his place.
These chapters are great advertisements for the teachings of God regarding forgiveness. How badly is David being hurt by all of this? He is spending time in the wilderness and in hiding, but his heart is good and his people are trusting and happy. Saul, on the other hand, is being consumed by bitterness and the bile of festering hatred. It is as though he is being eaten up from the inside out. The Lord's teachings constitute an eternal principle. We must love our enemies, and forgive those who trespass against us, or the poison of our perversity will drain the life and joy and usefulness from our souls.
Think of Jonathan again. If anyone was truly threatened by David, it was Jonathan. Saul was safe, and had nothing to fear. David had never been a danger to Saul, and refused to injure him even when he had the opportunity. But Jonathan was the crown prince. The throne and kingdom, according to the expected order of things, should come to him. But it would not: rather, because of the wickedness of his father, the crown would go to David, his friend. What was Jonathan's response to this? And "Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God" (1 Samuel 23:16).
I love Jonathan, who was so utterly selfless and submissive to the Lord's will.
In 1 Samuel 24, Saul made another attempt to find and destroy David. He brought 3000 men (1 Sam 24:2) to go against David's 600 (1 Sam 23:13) into the wilderness of En-gedi. While he was in a cave "covering his feet" (which can mean, according to the interpretation you favor, either to sleep, massage his feet, or go to the bathroom), David, who was also in the cave, hiding, cut the hem from his robe but left Saul unharmed once again.
David is a great example of one who trusts the Lord. He knows he is to be king, but he is content to let the Lord handle the matter in his own due time. Saul was chosen by the Lord to be king, and Davis is content to let the Lord remove him when the time is right.
Conclusion
Who are your friends? Would they consider you a "true friend" in the spirit of the quote from Elder Hales in the introduction to this lesson? Do you make it easier for them to be obedient and to follow the Lord? Like all of you, I have had friends of both kinds. These chapters have encouraged by to want to be a friend like Jonathan—one whose entire will is swallowed up in the will of the Lord, and whose only desire is that his friend should reach his highest potential.
Are those whom you call friends, true friends? Do your associates come to you and strengthen your hand in God? If not, it is probably time to find new associates with whom to spend your time.
Old Testament: Lesson 23
by Ted L. Gibbons
Introduction
Zoram, we are told, was a "true friend" to Nephi (see 2 Nephi 1:30), as was Amulek to Alma. Hyrum was a true friend and brother to Joseph. Likewise, the friendship of David and Jonathan has become a standard. Rarely have two individuals been as devoted to one another as these two.
As we study what they did for each other, we can learn principles that will assist us as we evaluate our own friendships and the influences they have on us.
We need to measure very carefully who our true friends are. The measure of a true friend is one who will not have us choose between his way and the Lord's way. A true friend makes it easier for us to live the commandments of the Lord. A true friend will not let us do anything we want. True friends will correct us when we do something wrong and bring us back on the straight and narrow path that leads to exaltation.
Every one of us needs to know when to walk or run away from those who would call themselves friends but in reality are not. Joseph of old recognized the evil in Potiphar's wife and ran from it (see Gen. 39:7—12). We too must recognize evil and shun it. If we allow machoism to overtake our personal lives and influence choices and decisions we make, we can severely limit our progression in this life and in the eternities (Robert D. Hales, "Return with Honor," Ensign, June 1999, 12).
There are those kinds of friends from whom we we should run. Judah's friend Hirah, the Abdullamite, was willing to pay Judah's debt to a harlot (Genesis 38:20). Jonadab, the friend of Amnon, counseled Amnon on how to put himself in a position to take advantage of his half-sister, Tamar (see 2 Sam. 13). Job's three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, came to comfort Job in his misery, and then added to his misery by telling him he was suffering because he was so wicked.
I. JONATHAN AND DAVID MAKE A COVENANT OF FRIENDSHIP. SAUL BECOMES JEALOUS OF DAVID AND TRIES TO KILL HIM.
And it came to pass. . . . that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul . . . Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul (1 Sam 18:1,3)
The fact that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David just after the defeat of Goliath is interesting. Jonathan and his armourbearer, with only a few weapons and their faith in God, had attacked and routed the Philistine garrison (see 1 Sam. 14 and Old Testament lesson 22 from last week). David, armed with a staff and a sling, had gone against the Philistine champion, a man from whom the other Israelites had all fled. It is not hard to imagine that common faith and courage drawing these two young men together.
What does the final phrase of 1 Sam. 18:3 ("he loved him as his own soul") suggest about true friendship?
Jonathan was the crown prince of Israel. David and Samuel knew that Jonathan was not next in line for the throne, and it is likely that Jonathan knew it also.
And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle (1 Sam. 18:4).
Saul also was pleased with David. He took him into his own service after the death of Goliath "and would let him go no more home to his father's house" (1 Sam 18:2). David served Saul well.
And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants (1 Sam. 18:5).
But something caused Saul to turn against David.
And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick. And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? (1 Sam. 18:6-8).
What was the initial cause of Saul's anger at David? The final phrase of 18:8 suggests that perhaps at this time Saul had begun to suspect that the neighbor mentioned by Samuel in 1 Sam. 15:8—the neighbor who would take the throne from Saul—was none other than David.
Reading these passages reminded me of the talk given by Elder Holland in April Conference about the parable of the two sons.
The younger son has returned, a robe has been placed on his shoulders and a ring on his finger, when the older son comes on the scene. He has been dutifully, loyally working in the field, and now he is returning. The language of parallel journeys home, though from very different locations, is central to this story.
As he approaches the house, he hears the sounds of music and laughter.
"And he called one of the servants [note that he has servants] and asked what these things meant.
And [the servant] said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
And [the older brother] was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him."
You know the conversation they then had. Surely, for this father, the pain over a wayward child who had run from home and wallowed with swine is now compounded with the realization that this older, wiser brother, the younger boy's childhood hero as older brothers always are, is angry that his brother has come home.
No, I correct myself. This son is not so much angry that the other has come home as he is angry that his parents are so happy about it. (Ensign, May 2002, pp. 62,63).
Can you see Saul in these paragraphs? Saul is angry that his people are happy with David's success. How insidious a jealous heart can be!
Who is it that whispers so subtly in our ear that a gift given to another somehow diminishes the blessings we have received? Who makes us feel that if God is smiling on another, then He surely must somehow be frowning on us? You and I both know who does this—it is the father of all lies. It is Lucifer, our common enemy, whose cry down through the corridors of time is always and to everyone, "Give me thine honor."
It has been said that envy is the one sin to which no one readily confesses, but just how widespread that tendency can be is suggested in the old Danish proverb, "If envy were a fever, all the world would be ill" (Ensign, May 2002, p. 63).
There must be a warning here for all of us. We are required by our religion to rejoice in, rather than resent, the good fortune of others.
Saul will later have other excuses for his hatred of David, but for now it is enough for him that Davis is doing well and is loved. "And Saul eyed David from that day and forward" (1 Sam. 18:9).
David knew of this burgeoning animosity. Saul had tried to kill him.
And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand. And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice (1 Sam. 18:10,11).
How did he respond?
And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him. Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them (1 Sam. 18:14 -16; see also 18:5, 30).
Brigham Young said something about behaving ourselves wisely when others speak and think evil of us. He was giving instructions to departing missionaries in 1861. He said:
You will have all manner of evil spoken against you, and all I ask of you and all that God or angels will ask of you is that not one word spoken against you shall be true; and I want you for my sake and for your own sake and for the sake of Christ and the Kingdom of God to live so that the wicked shall have no cause to speak evil against you. (cited in Wilford Woodruff: History of His Life and Labors, pp. 412-413).
II. SAUL FAILS IN THREE MORE ATTEMPTS TO TAKE DAVID'S LIFE.
The account of David's marriage to Saul's daughter, and the events surrounding that marriage, sound very much like the plot of a poorly written soap-opera. What purpose did Saul have in offering his daughter to David? What was the underlying reason for the dowry he required of David? (see 1 Sam. 18:17,21,25)
When the Philistines failed to accomplish Saul's objective, his subtlety vanished. "And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David" (1 Sam. 19:1).
But Jonathan was a true friend to David and he knew what was right.
But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself: And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee. And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good: For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause? And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain. And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past (1 Sam. 19:2-7).
However, Saul's oath, sworn by the life of God, was soon forgotten.
And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him.
And the evil spirit which was not of the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand [I have copied this verse from the JST; note that the JST always indicates that this evil spirit was not from God. See 16:14,15,16,23; 18:10]
And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.
Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.
So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.
And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth.
And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.
And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.
And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster (1 Sam. 19:8-16).
Michal also turns out to have been a true friend to her husband, David.
III. DAVID AND JONATHAN RENEW THEIR COVENANT OF FRIENDSHIP, AND JONATHAN SAVES DAVID'S LIFE.
The foundation of the friendship of David and Jonathan is the Rock of Christ. Before this bulwark, all other considerations must defer. Thus Jonathan feels a greater responsibility to David than to his own father. The issue is not a generation gap. It is not a matter of filial rebellion against parental authority. It is not a matter of Jonathan's appreciation of David's personality more than that of his father. It is a matter of right and wrong.
Saul had planned to kill David at the three-day feast of the new moon. But David suspected perfidy and did not come. In his anger, Saul told Jonathan:
For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die (1 Sam. 20:31).
We were told in 1 Sam 16:14 that Saul lost the Spirit. Have you seen evidence enough of this to convince you? Samuel thought his life was threatened by Saul (see 1 Sam. 16:2); Saul tried repeatedly to kill David; and now . . .
And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done? And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David (1 Sam 20:32-33).
David fled from the household and presence of Saul for the final time. Future attempts to kill David would be made in locations of David's choosing.
IV. SAUL IS CONSUMED BY HATRED FOR DAVID. DAVID SPARES SAUL'S LIFE.
Saul's maniacal rage continued even with David gone from his presence. What happened to the priests of Nob who gave David assistance? (see 1 Sam. 22:18,19). What did Saul intend to do to the city of Keilah where David had found assistance? (see 1 Sam 23:10).
What would cause a man to be so destitute of basic values and Christian principles that he would destroy a city to kill a single man? But Saul, even though he was conducting a war against the Philistines, was consumed by a different passion. "And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand" (1 Samuel 23:14, emphasis added).
We are told that Satan had great hold on the hearts of the people of Ammonihah (see Alma 8:9). Can you see this same reality in the heart of Saul. Here is a man who has been willing to kill the Prophet, his own son, and the man anointed by the Lord to become king in his place.
These chapters are great advertisements for the teachings of God regarding forgiveness. How badly is David being hurt by all of this? He is spending time in the wilderness and in hiding, but his heart is good and his people are trusting and happy. Saul, on the other hand, is being consumed by bitterness and the bile of festering hatred. It is as though he is being eaten up from the inside out. The Lord's teachings constitute an eternal principle. We must love our enemies, and forgive those who trespass against us, or the poison of our perversity will drain the life and joy and usefulness from our souls.
Think of Jonathan again. If anyone was truly threatened by David, it was Jonathan. Saul was safe, and had nothing to fear. David had never been a danger to Saul, and refused to injure him even when he had the opportunity. But Jonathan was the crown prince. The throne and kingdom, according to the expected order of things, should come to him. But it would not: rather, because of the wickedness of his father, the crown would go to David, his friend. What was Jonathan's response to this? And "Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God" (1 Samuel 23:16).
I love Jonathan, who was so utterly selfless and submissive to the Lord's will.
In 1 Samuel 24, Saul made another attempt to find and destroy David. He brought 3000 men (1 Sam 24:2) to go against David's 600 (1 Sam 23:13) into the wilderness of En-gedi. While he was in a cave "covering his feet" (which can mean, according to the interpretation you favor, either to sleep, massage his feet, or go to the bathroom), David, who was also in the cave, hiding, cut the hem from his robe but left Saul unharmed once again.
David is a great example of one who trusts the Lord. He knows he is to be king, but he is content to let the Lord handle the matter in his own due time. Saul was chosen by the Lord to be king, and Davis is content to let the Lord remove him when the time is right.
Conclusion
Who are your friends? Would they consider you a "true friend" in the spirit of the quote from Elder Hales in the introduction to this lesson? Do you make it easier for them to be obedient and to follow the Lord? Like all of you, I have had friends of both kinds. These chapters have encouraged by to want to be a friend like Jonathan—one whose entire will is swallowed up in the will of the Lord, and whose only desire is that his friend should reach his highest potential.
Are those whom you call friends, true friends? Do your associates come to you and strengthen your hand in God? If not, it is probably time to find new associates with whom to spend your time.
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